Arsenal: Mesut Ozil contract mess not even surprising

Contract talks between Arsenal and Mesut Ozil have reportedly broken down after the uncertainty of Arsene Wenger and his future. The shambolic handling of the German’s contract, though, is hardly surprising.

To say Arsenal’s handling of player contracts over the past decade has been inefficient would be a grave understatement. Inefficient would be overpaying for a player who does not produce at the level his wage demands. Inefficient would be taking a little too long to secure the future of a player, and thereby having to pay a little more than perhaps the market would dictate. Inefficient would be lacking certainty and conviction at times, but, after delay and discussions, ultimately agreeing to a new deal.

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That is far from what Arsenal have been. Shambolic would perhaps be a more accurate delineation of their futile attempts to run a public and highly-scrutinised organisation at the top end of its sport.

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Just this past summer, the transfer situations of Joel Campbell, Jack Wilshere, Wojciech Szczesny, Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Carl Jenkinson were all significantly affected by having just 12 months remaining on their current contracts. In addition, Arsene Wenger’s future was not determined until his contract had expired, ultimately agreeing, in a controversial and unpopular fashion, to a new two-year deal, players such as Aaron Ramsey, Theo Walcott, Olivier Giroud and Nacho Monreal will also be in the exact same situation next summer, and all the while, the clock continues to tick with inaction reigning.

And now, per SportBild in Germany, it has been revealed that contract talks with Mesut Ozil have broken down, and have been so since February when they were stalled as the future of Wenger was yet to be resolved. Per the same publication, rumours of a £250,000-a-week offer are misguided and talks are yet to resume between club and player, even though he could depart for nothing in just nine months.

It is farcical. Wenger and the club have allowed such disarray to infect and affect every facet of management. It would not happen at any other professional organisation of Arsenal’s size, stature and popularity, sporting or otherwise.

And what’s worse, is that I am not even surprised. Such has been the club’s troubles with tying down players to long-term deals – Samir Nasri, Robin van Persie, Bacary Sagna, Gael Clichy, Emmanuel Adebayor all left because of soon-to-be-expiring or already-expired contracts –, that it is almost my expectation that players and contracts come back to bite the progress that Arsenal can make.

Uncertainty has ruled the roost at the Emirates, starting with the board, continuing with Wenger and trickling through to the players. No one is secure in their role; no one knows who will be here even a year from now. It is an absolute nightmare.

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For Ozil, only time will tell whether he stays beyond next summer. He has committed himself to the club, stating that he wants to stay, but until he signs the dotted line, it is very difficult to believe that anything other than an exit will happen.