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Arsenal: Mesut Ozil The Enemy In Contract Negotiations
By Josh Sippie
Arsenal loves their Mesut Ozil, but in the case of his contract negotiations, it may very well be a role reversal, with him as the enemy.
Arsenal‘s contract negotiations are literally the only thing that is gnawing at the back of our collective mind, reminding everyone that it’s not all perfect. Both Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil need new contracts or they will be sold this summer. Of that I feel quite certain.
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Therefore any updates are absolutely crucial, even if the update is nothing more than a hint or a word of encouragement.
Arsene Wenger has come out and said the most he has ever said about Mesut Ozil’s contract negotiations and I’m not sure I like what he had to say.
“I don’t think he needs convincing [to stay],” he said, via the Guardian. “He wants to stay here. If you have a good bank, call me.”
It didn’t get any better.
“Am I confident he will sign? It’s not my main worry now. We want to keep our best players, of course. The more I say that, the more he is in a stronger position.”
Perhaps I’ve been spoiled by the players Arsenal have had lately. Guys like Aaron Ramsey, Hector Bellerin, Santi Cazorla and Francis Coquelin are guys that just sign the deal. They want to be here, it’s as simple as that.
In Mesut Ozil’s case, it isn’t as simple as that. He wants to stay, but he wants more money. That bit I can understand. It’s the bit that Wenger explained about how playing up Ozil’s importance puts the German in a strong position of negotiation.
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Again, I get that this is all part of the negotiation process, but this is the side that we don’t see with our typical ‘Arsenal’ men. It almost frames Mesut Ozil like the enemy.
It sounds like two sides are meeting in battle. Neither side wants to divulge important information because it will put the other in a position of power.
You really can’t downplay the significance of Mesut Ozil, but as the questioning of Wenger suggested, it sounds like the two parties are incredibly far apart. Like, massively far, to the point that even wanting to stay isn’t enough to bridge the gap.
That is not a situation I thought that we would be in with just about anyone, frankly.
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Whatever the case, hopefully the two parties can continue to grow together, both in spirit and in £’s.