Mesut Ozil’s torrid ending at Arsenal was due to the departure of Santi Cazorla, claims his agent

Mesut Ozil’s torrid ending at Arsenal was due to the departure of ‘favourite’ team-mate Santi Cazorla, claims his agent… with the German playmaker ‘not the same’ after the Spaniard left

  • Mesut Ozil was ‘not the same’ at Arsenal after Santi Cazorla departed the club
  • Ozil’s agent, Ertuk Sogut, claimed Cazorla leaving affected Ozil’s performances
  • Ozil, 33, was frozen out at the end of his Arsenal career and left for Fenerbahce 

Mesut Ozil’s dramatic decline in his final years at Arsenal was due to the departure of his ‘favourite’ player Santi Cazorla, according to the German’s agent. 

Having joined the Gunners in 2013 as one of the highest-profile players in the world, Ozil experienced a stunning fall from grace in north London towards the end of his time there. 

The playmaker did not make a single appearance for the club in his final nine months before eventually leaving for Fenerbache in January 2021. He became a source of severe anger for many Arsenal fans as he was the club’s best paid player in that time.

Mesut Ozil’s decline at Arsenal was due to the departure of Santi Cazorla, claims his agent

Ozil's (right) agent Ertuk Sogut said the German was 'not the same' after Cazorla (centre) left

Ozil’s (right) agent Ertuk Sogut said the German was ‘not the same’ after Cazorla (centre) left

Despite enduring a torrid final few years, Ozil won three FA Cups with Arsenal, scoring 44 goals and providing an impressive 77 assists over his eight years at the club.

However, his agent Erkut Sogut has offered one big reason for why Ozil declined so significantly at Arsenal to the point of being frozen out by Mikel Arteta: Cazorla’s departure. 

‘He had Santi for a while and he loved him,’ Sogut told AFTV.

Ozil (left), Cazorla (fourth left) and others celebrate winning the FA Cup with Arsenal in 2015

Ozil (left), Cazorla (fourth left) and others celebrate winning the FA Cup with Arsenal in 2015

‘I think probably one of his most favourite players. Mesut is a smart, intelligent player, he reads the game and he is always looking. He loves to play with intelligent players.’

Cazorla was beloved by Gunners fans for his talent and work ethic in the heart of Arsenal’s midfield. But his career has been blighted by injuries, with Cazorla close to giving up completely after undergoing eight surgeries on an achilles injury in 2017.

Eventually the Spaniard left Arsenal in 2018, moving back to Villarreal for two seasons before joining Qatari club Al Sadd in 2020. 

Sogut suggested that Ozil played his best football in partnership with Cazorla, whose tireless work in midfield and ability to pick a pass allowed the German to flourish higher up the field.  

Ozil, 33, has been frozen out once again in his career, this time at Turkish club Fenerbahce

Ozil, 33, has been frozen out once again in his career, this time at Turkish club Fenerbahce

‘If you’re a No.10 the one in front of you and the one behind you, a good striker and good No.6 who cleans it up and sees you and plays you the ball so you can give the final pass,’ Sogut said.

‘Santi is very smart, very intelligent and has great technique and that suited Mesut a lot to have him behind him.

‘When Santi left you could see it wasn’t the same any more, right away it changed.’

Ozil’s fortunes have not fared much better since leaving Arsenal. The 33-year-old has once again been frozen out of the first-team squad, this time at Fenerbahce, and in a familiar tale has insisted he will not leave the club.  

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