Mesut Ozil’s days at Arsenal appear over after the midfielder was left out of the Gunners’ Europa League squad by manager Mikel Arteta.
The German has been frozen out at the club since football’s return in July but the Europa League represented an opportunity for him to stake his claim for a place in the first team squad.
Ozil is Arsenal’s top earner on £350,000-a-week but he hasn’t featured for the club since March and the club were keen to offload him in the transfer window.
Given the playmaker failed to receive a suitable offer, Arteta had been expected to reintegrate Ozil in some capacity and the Europa League was seen as the perfect opportunity – even if it was just a means of putting him in the shop window.
However, Ozil has been left out of Arsenal’s squad and his future at the club appears to be over.
Ozil participated in first team training this week but Arteta clearly doesn’t see the midfielder forming a part of the club’s future.
The former Real Madrid man has a year to run on his contract at the club and he’s repeatedly insisted he intends to see out his deal at the club.
However, Ozil could reconsider that stance now that his chances of playing this season appear limited.
Sokratis, the Greek defender, has also been left out of the squad after Arsenal failed to sell him on deadline day to Roma.
