Arsenal legend David Seaman believes the club are ‘crying out for a player like Mesut Ozil’ and insists the Gunners boss Mikel Arteta is letting the German’s talent ‘go to waste’
- David Seaman believes Arsenal are crying out for a player like Mesut Ozil
- The Gunners icon is surprised Mikel Arteta has continued to snub the German
- Seaman, who won three league titles with the club, feels Ozil’s quality is wasted
- Ozil, who earns £350,000-per-week, has not played for the club since March
Arsenal icon David Seaman has told his former club that they are wasting Mesut Ozil’s talent and has insisted the German playmaker is exactly the type of player they are desperately crying out for.
Ozil, who is the club’s highest-paid player on £350,000-per-week, was axed from Mikel Arteta’s Premier League and Europa League squads earlier this season and looks set to run down the final six months of his contract in the stands.
The 32-year-old has not played for the Gunners since March despite appearing to be a part of Arteta’s plans when he took over from Unai Emery.
Mesut Ozil’s quality and talent is being wasted by Arsenal, says club legend David Seaman
Mikel Arteta (lef) axed playmaker from Premier League and Europa League squads this year
However, after falling out of favour and being fully omitted from Arteta’s squads, Ozil publicly and privately stated his desire to play for the club and has kept himself in optimal condition while he continues to train as part of the first team.
Arteta has been firm in his stance over the German playmaker’s exclusion but the Gunners are currently crying out for creativity in midfield – having scored just 10 goals in 10 Premier League matches.
And Seaman, who won two Premier League titles and four FA Cups at the north London club, has been left baffled by the decision not to use the World Cup winner and believes the rift is a personal one between player and manager.
Seaman is surprised that Arteta continues to snub Ozil and believes he still has a lot to give
‘I am surprised Arteta is choosing to leave out Mezut Ozil because he’s a player of quality,’ the former Arsenal goalkeeper told The Target Men Podcast.
‘I feel something’s gone on personally between the two of them, because to leave him out, and on the money he’s on, is a big statement and for me it’s a bit of a waste, because he’s still a quality player.
‘When you look at the Arsenal team, we’re crying out for a player like that, so why don’t you build your team around Ozil rather than just leaving him out in the field and letting him go.’
Paul Merson, one of Seaman’s former team-mates at the club, believes Ozil should come back into the team if Thomas Partey is fit, which would allow the German to play a more attacking role.
The 32-year-old World Cup winner has not played for the Gunners since March 7
Ozil has stated his desire to play for Arsenal as he continues training with the club
Merson told Sky Sports earlier this week: ‘For me, Mesut Ozil comes back in the team if Thomas Partey is fit. Partey gets around the pitch, dominates the midfield and dictates the game. Him playing opens up a chance for Ozil.
‘At the moment, Arsenal have nobody in there to provide the forwards. You can make runs all day long, but if you’re a centre forward, your runs are only as good as the players playing behind you.
‘When these Arsenal players are getting the ball in midfield, with time, is Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang making the run? Is he confident they are going to see his run and are capable of getting that ball through the eye of a needle?
‘I’d say no, so they need creativity. Fernando Torres made runs when Steven Gerrard got the ball. They didn’t even have to look.
‘Teams are sitting back against Arsenal, and they don’t have the creativity in midfield to break them down.
Paul Merson also believes Arsenal are crying out for creativity in the middle of the pitch
‘If Partey doesn’t play, Ozil can’t play. Without Partey, Arsenal are not going to dictate the midfield, and then can’t afford to play with 10 men. But if Arsenal have the midfield, and Ozil is playing behind Aubameyang, with two flying wingers. You ask the back four to stay still, including the full backs.’
The Gunners’ tally of just 10 goals in as many matches is hugely alarming for Arteta – with only the bottom three sides in the Premier League holding worse records.
Sunday’s 2-1 defeat against Wolves consigned Arsenal to their fifth defeat of the season already – signalling the club’s worst start to a league campaign since 1981.
Arsenal will host Rapid Vienna in the Europa League on Thursday night before having to make the short trip across north London to face fierce rivals Tottenham on Sunday.
