Arsenal: Mesut Ozil can’t have the final say-so on his stay

Mesut Ozil doesn’t want to leave Arsenal, but he shouldn’t be the final authority on this right? Aren’t we going to sell him? Please?

Arsenal and Mesut Ozil have been going through a long, drawn-out breakup. He was always an Arsene Wenger man, and from the moment Unai Emery joined the club, questions were asked about the fit. Ozil was not an Emery-esque player and everyone knew that.

From that moment, it’s been like Ozil’s time at Arsenal has been on death row. He doesn’t fit in, he only performs well half the time, and even that is being generous, and the exorbitant wages we are paying him are part of the reason why we couldn’t afford to keep Aaron Ramsey.

It’s time to end things. It’s been time to end things. But according to Mesut Ozil, it’s not. According to Ozil he will definitely be staying at the club because he has another two years on his contract, and has no interest in going anywhere else until that contract is seen through to its completion.

I get it. That’s what he’s supposed to say. He’s been here long enough and feels such a degree of loyalty that he doesn’t want to go saying that he’s actively seeking an exit. He’s never been like that and that deserves some respect.

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But thinking practically, he can’t be the final say on this subject, can he? He has to know what an inconvenience all of this is, with his wages, his lack of sharpness, and the team’s gradual transition out of an outfit that he can thrive in. He just has to be aware of his own limitations.

Which makes me wonder just what the plan is with him, because as of right now, I would be massively surprised if he stayed at the club, yet apparently it would be massively surprising to Ozil if he wasn’t at the club. And I’ll admit that Ozil probably knows more about this subject than I do.

It’s time that we all get on board with Ozil’s exit, but that includes Mesut Ozil. I get the mentality of wanting to stay and fight for your place, but that opportunity has passed, hasn’t it? He’s been struggling for years, we can’t keep waiting to see if he will pan out when he’s making that much money.

I know I’m not alone in thinking that this is a divorce that needs to happen. Now it just actually needs to happen.