Kevin Campbell has claimed that Mesut Ozil will not feature for Arsenal again because he has a ‘huge ego’ despite having ‘unbelievable talent’.
The German hasn’t featured for the club since the 1-0 win over West Ham way back in the middle of March.
Speaking to Football Insider, the club legend claimed that the player doesn’t have a future at the club and that Mikel Arteta was right to freeze him out.
Campbell said: “No, he won’t, he doesn’t have a future at Arsenal. Mezut Ozil is not the here and now or the future of Arsenal. Mikel Arteta did the right thing freezing him out. He gave Ozil enough time to prove himself. At first, Arteta played him, I think it was 10 or so games that he played him in. After lockdown, there became an issue. They got back into training and maybe Ozil’s attitude was not right.”
“Arteta cannot afford to be stroking Ozil’s huge ego. He has to pick the right players for the job. Arteta got success in the FA Cup final, against Liverpool in the league without Mezut Ozil anywhere near it.” (via Football Insider)
Was Mikel Arteta right to freeze out Mesut Ozil?
Yes
No
Out of all the opinions I have read about why the former Germany international has been left out of Arteta’s squad this season, this has been by far the worst of the lot. Various former teammates of the player, who have actually played with the supremely talented playmaker, have come out in defence of his training and attitude.
I find it hard to believe a former player, who most likely hasn’t gone to the training ground every day sine 2014, would know much about how a current squad member performs. And to add insult to injury the use of the word ‘maybe’ shows Campbell is making assumptions.
Per Mertesacker, the current academy manager and someone who is probably around the training ground everyday, came out in staunch defence of the playmaker, claiming his omission wasn’t due to training or performances.
Even more crucially, Ozil was in brilliant form prior to the nationwide lockdown at the end of March, scoring one goal and assisting another in his last three games.
Whether you think the omission of the midfielder is right, lying about the reasons he has been frozen out does nothing more than stir up hate especially towards a player that has suffered from great personal issues in recent years.
