Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil steps up his security with 24-hour dog patrols

Footballer Mesut Ozil has stepped up his security at home after he and Arsenal teammate Sead Kolasinac were caught up in a vicious gang war. 

Moped thugs tried to steal their watches in an attempted carjacking last month in London, prompting a rival Eastern European gang to warn the pair were ‘off limits’.

To show they would not be scared off their turf, the local gang responded by upping their threats and vowing to rob the players of ‘everything they have’. 

Two men were arrested outside Ozil’s house in North London last week – and security guards and dogs have now been seen outside the stars’ homes in a 24-hour watch. 

Ozil and Kolasinac spent yesterday in hiding, as their team beat Newcastle United 1-0 in their Premier League season opener which the duo were forced to miss.

Security staff Mesut Ozil has stepped up his security with 24-hour guards, pictured overnight

Dog patrols have been launched outside Ozil's house in North London with his normal security

Dog patrols have been launched outside Ozil’s house in North London with his normal security

A security guard walks outside Ozil's house in London after he was caught up in a gang war

A security guard walks outside Ozil’s house in London after he was caught up in a gang war

Kolasinac’s wife has fled to Germany because of the terrifying threats, the Sun on Sunday reported. 

The London gang are said to have considered the Eastern Europeans’ warning as an effort to intimidate them, deciding to respond by become even more violent. 

‘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 over the weekend.

Ozil (left) and his Arsenal teammate Sead Kolasinac (pictured after their Europa League win over Valencia in May) are under 24-hour guard after they were caught in the gang war

Ozil (left) and his Arsenal teammate Sead Kolasinac (pictured after their Europa League win over Valencia in May) are under 24-hour guard after they were caught in the gang war

Security guards and dogs have now been seen outside the stars' homes in a 24-hour watch

Security guards and dogs have now been seen outside the stars’ homes in a 24-hour watch

A security guard leads a dog outside Ozil's home in North London during a patrol overnight

A security guard leads a dog outside Ozil’s home in North London during a patrol overnight

A dog unit security car is pictured outside Ozil's home in North London overnight

A dog unit security car is pictured outside Ozil’s home in North London overnight

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’. 

Security staff outside Mesut Ozil's London home today

He and teammate Sead Kolasinac spent the day in hiding

Security staff outside Mesut Ozil’s North London home yesterday as he spent the day in hiding 

Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (right) celebrates scoring with teammates after hitting their winning goal against Newcastle United in a 1-0 victory in the Premier League yesterday

Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (right) celebrates scoring with teammates after hitting their winning goal against Newcastle United in a 1-0 victory in the Premier League yesterday

In the car-jacking 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

In the car-jacking 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 

Kolasinac getting back into Ozil's car after being confronted by one of the thugs holding a knife (circled)

Kolasinac getting back into Ozil’s car after being confronted by one of the thugs holding a knife (circled)

Security outside Ozil's home yesterday after he was caught up in a 'security incident'

Security outside Ozil’s home yesterday after he was caught up in a ‘security incident’

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. 

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 yesterday 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.   

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

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

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'

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 team of burly security guards - pictured yesterday - are now following the Arsenal pair everywhere they go

A team of burly security guards – pictured yesterday – are now following the Arsenal pair everywhere they go

‘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.’ 

It was an unwelcome and entirely unexpected issue for Emery to deal with as Arsenal started the campaign, but it was clearly inappropriate for the players to be separated from their families and stay in Newcastle while feeling under threat.  

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk