Arsenal stars Mesut Ozil and Sead Kolasinac are under 24-hour guard after they were inadvertently caught in a North London gang war, it has been claimed.
A North London gang has vowed to take ‘everything they have’ from the two players, it is reported, after they were warned to back off by a rival Eastern European mob.
The pair were targeted by car-jackers in north London last month and on Friday two men were charged over a separate incident at Ozil’s home.
Kolasinac’s wife has fled to Germany and the players’ homes are now being protected around the clock, the Sun on Sunday reported.
Arsenal stars Mesut Ozil and Sead Kolasinac (pictured with their arms round each other, Ozil left) are under 24-hour guard after they were inadvertently caught in a North London gang war
Security outside Ozil’s home after he and Kolasinac were caught up in ‘security incidents’
Both players have been left out of the squad for Arsenal’s opening Premier League fixture against Newcastle today.
According to reports, a group of Eastern European thugs vowed to protect the unwitting players after the moped raid last month.
A rival London gang took that as an effort to intimidate them and instead redoubled their efforts to target the players.
‘To show they were serious, the thugs issued more threats to the Arsenal players and refused to be cowed,’ a source said.
‘It was thought that originally the robbers wanted their watches but now they have been told that they want everything the pair have.’
There are also fears that the players may be targeted online.
Pictures showed Ozil’s gated house under guard while Kolasinac’s wife has reportedly left for Germany.
n the car-jacking attack on July 25 the pair were ambushed by robbers as Ozil left his £3million home in a black Mercedes G-Class. Kolasinac is seen defending his team-mate
Mesut Ozil (dyed blonde hair) was pictured talking to officers outside Turkish restaurant Likya on Golders Green Road in north London after the car-jacking attack
In the car-jacking attack on July 25 the pair were ambushed by robbers as Ozil left his £3million home in a black Mercedes G-Class.
The players were chased through the mansion-lined streets of north London in a high-speed pursuit as attackers pelted the car with roof tiles to try and break the rear window.
Security camera footage showing Kolasinac, nicknamed the Tank, confronting the offenders after they approached Ozil’s car.
Neither midfielder Ozil, 30, nor defender Kolasinac, 26, were harmed.
Despite their terrifying ordeal Kolasinac posted a defiant picture of the pair smiling on Twitter, which was captioned, ‘Think we’re all fine’.
Kolasinac, a no-nonsense 6ft Bosnian international, was born in Germany to refugee parents who fled the hardships of the war in their Balkan homeland.
After their terrifying car-jacking ordeal Kolasinac posted a defiant picture of the pair smiling on Twitter, which was captioned, ‘Think we’re all fine’
A further incident occurred on Thursday when two men were arrested after reportedly being involved in an altercation outside Ozil’s house.
Ferhat Ercan, 27, and Salaman Ekinci, 27, were charged under the Public Order Act the following day.
They are due to appear at Highbury Corner magistrates’ court on September 6.
Arsenal said they would not play against Newcastle on Sunday afternoon following ‘security incidents’.
Neither featured in the Emirates Cup defeat to Lyon the weekend after the carjacking scare, after talks with head coach Unai Emery.
‘The welfare of our players and their families is always a top priority and we have taken this decision following discussion with the players and their representatives,’ a club spokesman said.
‘We are liaising with the police and are providing the players and their families with ongoing support.
‘We look forward to welcoming the players back to the squad as soon as possible.’