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The New Year can help bring a new start for everyone after a dismal start 2020 – that sentiment certainly applies for Arsenal outcast Mesut Ozil.
The German midfielder has spent the past nine months on the sidelines for Arsenal and his future in north London looks set to be over after eight mixed seasons at the Premier League club.
But recent developments suggest all may not be over for Ozil just yet. A reported dressing room row over Ozil’s omission plus a statement from the man himself saying he ‘wants to help the team’ could lead to a January revival.
Mesut Ozil is set to leave Arsenal in 2021 – but will it be in January or on a free next summer?
Ozil (right) has been left out of Mikel Arteta’s (left) league and European squads this season
Sportsmail looks at all the options for Ozil as the January transfer window – and a crucial Premier League run for Arsenal – looms large on the horizon…
Ozil’s situation at Arsenal looked to be dead and buried after being left out of Arsenal’s Premier League and European squad lists – but the German appears to have been given a lifeline by his team-mates.
According to The Telegraph, the Gunners dressing room is divided over Ozil’s omission from Arteta’s squad with the Arsenal players impressed with the 31-year-old’s performances in training.
But despite this reported vote of confidence, the north London’s club claims it is very ‘clear’ on Ozil’s future as his Arsenal contract winds down into its final six months before expiry.
The Arsenal dressing are said to be split on Ozil’s (middle) omission from the Gunners squad
Arsenal technical director Edu, who helps assemble the squad along with Arteta, revealed in an interview earlier this month: ‘The way we see his future at the club, the way we see him here. It’s quite clear.
‘What makes me feel comfortable, which we treat the situation, man to man, no-one hides anything, and Mikel explained to you guys a lot.’
So Ozil’s time in north London looks to be coming to an end, which leaves the midfielder two options: seek a transfer in January or move on a free transfer in the summer.
A move for Ozil in next month’s transfer window would be hard to pull off as potential suitors could consider a mid-season deal very risky.
Arsenal technical director Edu Gaspar (left) said Ozil’s future at the club is ‘very clear’ now
Arsenal’s financial situation – damaged by the coronavirus pandemic – would mean the Gunners would likely command a fee, though reports claim the Premier League side are happy to cover half of his £350,000-a-week wages at a new club.
According to Italian news outlet Tuttosport this week, that deal was offered to reigning Serie A champions Juventus but Andrea Pirlo’s side turned down the move.
Ozil and his agent Erkut Sogut has repeatedly stated the midfielder will be loyal to his Arsenal contract which ends on June 30 next year, which makes a January move away even more unlikely.
Sogut told Tuttomercatoweb earlier this year: ‘Even one day is a long time in football, you never know. Of course, there are many clubs interested in him.
Ozil was reportedly offered to Juventus this winter but could move to Fenerbache next year
‘This has never changed but his willingness to honour his contract and play hasn’t changed either. He’s a man of his word, loyal, and loyalty is hard to find in these times.’
That means Ozil is likely to part ways with Arsenal in the summer after eight years at the Premier League club.
A move to Turkish side Fenerbache seems a more likely destination give the 31-year-old’s links to the country.
Despite being born in German city Gelsenkirchen, Ozil’s first language is Turkish and grew up around immigrants from the country. The footballer is also married to former Miss Turkey Amine Gulse and the couple have a young daughter together.
If Ozil is to leave Arsenal in the summer then the next few weeks will be crucial into deciding whether he features for the Gunners again. Arsenal manager Arteta can re-register the 31-year-old in January and there is a case for Ozil to be reintroduced.
Arteta (left) could also reintroduce Ozil (right) from the cold from the January transfer window
Arsenal have made their worst ever start to a Premier League season due to a lack of creativity
Arsenal have endured their worst start to a Premier League season in nearly 50 years and currently sit 14th in the table.
One of the main areas of concern for Arteta was a lack of creativity in front of goal – before their 3-1 Boxing Day win over Chelsea, the Gunners scored just two goals from open play in their previous ten league games.
There’s no guarantee that Ozil would fix the issue but bringing in the man who registered 19 assists in the 2015-16 league season would not be the worst idea if Arsenal’s final third woes continue.
Former Gunners interim boss Freddie Ljungberg, who was part of Arteta’s coaching staff when the Spaniard was appointed 12 months ago, questioned the Arsenal manager’s call to drop Arteta from the squad in the first place.
Freddie Ljungberg (left) claimed there is no-one better in the final third than Ozil (right)
The Swede told Sky Sports earlier this month: ‘When you have a player like that, and I don’t say he should play every single week … but when you have possession and you need to find that cute pass, I don’t think there are any better players than Mesut doing that.
‘For those things, I don’t think there are many better in the world.’
German goalkeeper Bernd Leno, meanwhile, has leant his support to Ozil in his difficult exile at the Emirates Stadium and praised the midfielder’s professionalism in the training ground.
‘Mesut is still a part of the team and trains with us,’ Leno told BILD. ‘He is absolutely professional, both on the pitch and in the dressing room.
Bernd Leno (right) gave his support to the ‘professional’ and ‘loyal’ Ozil (left) currently in exile
‘Obviously it’s a disappointing situation for him, but Mesut handles it well and is absolutely loyal.’
However, Arteta could provide a case for stating Arsenal do not need Ozil in their squad anymore as the attacking midfielder spot is now filled.
The Gunners were boosted by the display of 20-year-old Emile Smith Rowe against Chelsea, who worked tirelessly to link a promising young attack consisting of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.
Arteta also has Joe Willock to fall back on for back-up, with the 21-year-old scoring three goals and registering three assists in five Europa League group games so far this season.
Emile Smith Rowe (left) and Joe Willock (middle) have impressed for Arsenal in recent weeks
Furthermore, Arsenal fans would not be unanimously comfortable with Ozil returning to the squad given his performances in a Gunners shirt before his exile.
The 31-year-old was given a fair crack at fighting for a first-team spot when Arteta first arrived and started all eleven league matches between the Spaniard’s appointment and the mid-season coronavirus hiatus in March.
Ozil provided just one goal and one assist in those displays while he was criticised for his lack of press in Arteta’s intense attacking system.
Whether he leaves in January or not, Ozil will go down as a modern Arsenal legend given his displays in his first four years in north London.
But the German will be hoping for one last swansong in an Arsenal shirt – and Arteta is the only man who can grant him that wish.
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