One regular day of Arsenal, all I ask for. Will never happen
Mesut Özil probably won’t play for Arsenal this season. He hasn’t played since March and Mikel Arteta, current Arsenal manager and former teammate of Özil, does not appear to want to use him in any way, shape or form. This was made clear when the German was left out of Arsenal’s 25-man Europa League squad.
Arteta still has a few more days to decide on his 25-man Premier League squad but it doesn’t seem likely that he will be included.
Most Arsenal fans have come to terms with this, despite how unfortunate it is that such a talented footballer has become an outcast throughout the back-end of his peak.
But some Arsenal fans, you will be shocked to hear, are still fighting an unwinnable battle to get him reinstated into the picture.
A Change.org petition has been launched to get him back into the Europa League squad.
Sam Neil-Perry, who began the petition, wrote:
“To, Arsenal Football Club, Mikel Arteta, Edu Gaspar, Vinai Venkatesham, Josh Kroenke, Stan Kroenke.
“Petition to include Mesut Ozil in the Arsenal Premier League and Europa League squads for 2020/2021 season.
“We as concerned Arsenal fans would like to see long time servant of the club Mesut Ozil registered to play in the Premier League and the Europa League this season..
“Prior to the Covid 19 crisis, Mesut was a regular starter for Arsenal. However, since football has restarted he has not played a single minute and now has not made the substitute’s bench so far this season.
“He was recently left out of Arsenal’s Europa League squad for the group stages which means he will not be eligible to play in that stage of the competition.
“We fear that the club may do the same for the Premier League squad and we will not get to see him play this season.
“We feel this would be deeply sad. Mesut has played for the club for seven years, played 254 games, scored 44 goals and assisted 77 times.
“He has helped us win 4 FA cups and is extremely popular with fans with a social media following of 78 million people.
“He is involved in many charity projects around the world and is responsible for bringing in countless new Arsenal fans to the club.
“It has been speculated that non footballing issues are affecting his selection.
“These include-
“His questioning of a proposed 12.5% pay cut for the players.
“His weekly wage and possible appearance bonuses.
“His statement in solidarity with the Uighur Muslims in China.
“We deeply hope that this is not the case and we ask Arsenal football club to reinstate Mesut Ozil back into the first team squad so fans can watch him play during the final year of his contract.
“Yours,
“Concerned Arsenal fans.”
It’s highly likely that Özil’s exclusion from the first team picture is political as well as a consequence of footballing reasons. And it’s almost certain that this petition will do nothing to change that.
