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17th Feb 2017

Mesut Ozil’s agent reckons he knows why the player is being made a “scapegoat”

"Was he the reason that Arsenal conceded five goals?"

Robert Redmond

Mesut Ozil may leave Arsenal, but we doubt he’ll ever leave Dr Erkut Sogut.

Sogut is Ozil’s lawyer and representative, and has launched a staunch defence of the player following Arsenal’s humiliating defeat to Bayern Munich.

The Gunners lost 5-1 to the German champions in the Champions League last-16 first leg tie at the Allianz Arena earlier this week.

No Arsenal performed with any distinction, but Ozil, once again, came in for criticism for a perceived lack of effort.

The German playmaker was even blamed for Arjen Robben’s opening goal, despite the fact Francis Coquelin allowed the Dutch winger to cut inside on his left foot and shoot.

Ozil’s agent has said the player is being unfairly criticised, and turned into a “scapegoat” for the team’s poor results.

“Criticism is normal if a player plays badly,” Sogut told BBC Sport.

“But Mesut feels people are not focusing on his performance; they are using him as a scapegoat for the team after bad results.”

Ozil’s agent also disputed claims that the player doesn’t perform well in big games, and that criticism of Ozil is partially based on his body language.

“People are always saying Mesut is not fighting or tackling, that he has poor body language, but that is how he is.

“Believe me, he is desperate to succeed. If it doesn’t work, he shows his anger and expressions. Was his body language an issue when Arsenal were playing well?