‘People have been trying to destroy me’ – Mesut Ozil defends decision to reject Arsenal pay cut

Mesut Ozil has defended his decision to refuse a pay cut at Arsenal during lockdown, insisting that “people have been trying for two years to destroy me”.

The German, who has one more year remaining on his £350,000 per week contract at the Emirates, has been frozen out in recent months by head coach Mikel Arteta.

Criticism was levelled at the 31-year-old after rejecting a pay cut despite the extreme circumstances during the coronavirus pandemic slashing the club’s revenue without fans in stadiums.

And the perilous nature of the situation was underlined last week when the Gunners confirmed that 55 members of staff have been made redundant, though Ozil insists the club failed to provide sufficient information for him to agree to accept the pay cut.

“As players, we all wanted to contribute. But we needed more information and many questions were unanswered,” Ozil told The Athletic. “Everyone was fine with a deferral while there was so much uncertainty.

“I would have been OK to take a bigger share and then a cut if required, once the football and financial outlook was clearer.

“But we were rushed into it without proper consultation. For anyone in this situation, you have a right to know everything, to understand why it is happening and where the money is going.

“But we didn’t get enough details, we just had to give a decision. It was far too quick for something so important and there was a lot of pressure.”

Ozil also insists there has been an “agenda” against himself, with the intention of turning supporters against him.

Arteta has not selected him since 7 March against West Ham, with the official line of a back injury ruling him out since the Premier League restart.

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