Yahoo News Arsenal legend Arsene Wenger says Mesut Ozil’s talent is being wasted
Arsene Wenger has told both Arsenal and Mesut Ozil that they are wasting the German midfielder’s talent.
Ozil, who was signed for Arsenal by Wenger back in 2013, has fallen out of favour at Emirates Stadium and has not played for the club since March.
The 31-year-old has since been left out of Arsenal’s Europa League squad and risks being omitted from their Premier League one too, which must be submitted on October 20.
It means Ozil faces the very real prospect of seeing out the final year of his £350,000 a week contract without playing a single match this season and Wenger has told both the player and Arsenal that would be a waste.
“I feel it is a waste for him,” Wenger told the BBC. “Firstly because he's in the years where a player of his talent can produce the most.
“And it's a waste for the club as well because he's a super talent, a creative talent that in the final third can create that killer pass.
“The way football is going at the moment it's quick counter-pressing, quick transitions and everybody plays the same. It's kicked out players like Ozil. Although let's not forget who this guy is. A world champion who has played at Real Madrid.
“He's been the record player of assists, so you have to find a way to get him involved again.”
Wenger, however, was full of praise for new manager Mikel Arteta and believes the former midfielder is destined for big things.
“He has the ingredients to be a very good manager, a top manager, but many of my former players had these ingredients,” he said.
“We have to give them time, let them do their job in the way they want to do it.
“He's intelligent, he has big passion and a strong character. And I believe he's surrounding himself with the right people.”
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