Arsenal ace Mesut Ozil has attracted a lot of criticism in the past week, after missing the Gunners 5-0 victory over Burnley and the 3-1 loss against Leicester City with a reported back injury.
While Arsene Wenger has stated the continued absence of the Germany international is purely down to injury, some suggestions have emerged claiming that Ozil picks and chooses when he wants to play – led by criticism from former Arsenal defender Martin Keown.
After the Gunners’ 1-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid last week, Keown claimed the World Cup winner was ‘not fit to wear the shirt’ but Ozil’s agent has hit back, labelling the comments ‘stupid’ and accusing Keown of being jealous.
Quoted by The Sun, Dr Erkut Sogut said:
“I think that Martin Keown feels that just because he used to play football, it gives him the right to attack the current generation of stars. Perhaps he just wants to remain relevant, or maybe it is due to jealousy?”
“Is he envious about the money and exposure that current footballers have – I don’t know. But to sit there and criticise, and criticise, and criticise, time and time again, it’s getting a bit boring, in all honesty.”
“We are responding to you not because your words hurt us but because they are wrong. You cannot break us as you cannot influence the fans and people at the club, all of whom love Mesut.”
“Mesut wants to lead this club forward while you try to divide the club to keep yourself in the public eye and relevant with stupid, incorrect comments. You joke Mesut will have an ’emotional breakdown’. Do you think it is funny to joke about mental health?”
