Arsenal: Like it or not, Mesut Ozil has “higher” priorities

Arsenal’s emotional send-off for Arsene Wenger was missing one key man – Mesut Ozil. But whether we like it or not, that’s who he is.

Arsenal’s starting XI for what figured to be an emotional home send-off for Arsene Wenger against Burnley was without a man who has spoken so highly of Wenger and of the club in general – Mesut Ozil.

The German international has had a speckled year, meaning that he has been there some days and, other days, he has been mysteriously absent. Oftentimes these absences are chalked up to illnesses or injuries that no one ever learns anything about.

This time, Ozil’s absence was attributed to a back injury that, again, remains a mystery. It was more than a bit disheartening to see a game that, while lacking in implications, was immensely meaningful because of what it meant to the club as a whole, without Mesut Ozil.

This injury is supposed to take him out for the rest of the season, but you can bet that he won’t be missing for the build up to the World Cup, because when it matters most for Ozil, he has rarely ever been too hurt or too sick to play.

I’m sure there are a lot of people who don’t want to mar Wenger’s big day by thinking about just where the hell Ozil was, and I’m one of them, but I can’t seem to get away from the topic, so here I am.

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Fans were noticeably upset by the German’s absence, and the criticisms rang in. Some questioned his dedication to the club and some claimed that his back injury was because of a lack of a spine. Whatever the case, I think we can agree on one thing – that whether we like it or not, Ozil has other priorities than those to Arsenal.

And, to him, those priorities are higher.

With the World Cup upcoming and Germany as favorited as ever, Ozil undoubtedly wants to ensure that he is as fresh as can be. In that, there is no fault. He could also have seen this match as a risk to him, as he did skip out on the away trip to Burnley as well. And, given the lack of “big picture” implications in the match, his services may not have been “required.”

And yet World Cup goers like Granit Xhaka, Alexandre Lacazette, Alex Iwobi, hopefully Jack Wilshere and I’m sure I’m missing a few, as well as Burnley’s contingent, found their way out there for the match.

Next: 5 Things Learned Against Burnley

The Gunners that played played for the pride of the club. They played to give Wenger the send-off he deserved and I am finding that it’s a bit souring to see that Ozil could not find the same pride.