“You’re back, you’re the man, you play” – Arsenal legend backs Arsene Wenger’s treatment of contract-rebel star

It looks like Arsenal legend Thierry Henry joined to the long list of former Arsenal players criticising Mesut Ozil.

The 28-year-old started Monday night’s 2-0 win over West Brom on the bench after recovering from a knee injury. Ozil recently missed the Gunners 0-0 draw with Arsenal, win over Donaster Rovers and victory in the Europa League against FC Koln.

Henry believes Wenger’s decision to drop Ozil from the starting eleven is evidence of the Arsenal manager rediscovering his ruthless streak.

Ozil was brought on late in the second half after Arsenal made the game 2-0.

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“Whether he’s fit or not or if he trained a lot or not, Ozil [normally] plays,” Henry stated live on SkySports.

“The other day I saw something at Chelsea, okay he (Sanchez) didn’t start at Chelsea, but when he came on they put him up front because they were so well organised.

“Today, he comes off, Ozil comes on. Maybe we’re reading a bit too much into that but this is something that Arsene wouldn’t have done back in the days.

”You’re back, you’re the man, you play’. The other day was like ‘hang on a minute, that team has been working hard, we’re going to go to Chelsea like that.

“Now Ozil comes on and Alexis Sanchez comes off.

“There’s something I didn’t see before that now he said at the beginning of the game ‘the team is playing well, so he’s like any other player, he has to wait a bit.”

The Gunners take on Bate Borisov in the Europa League on Thursday evening and face the newly promoted Brighton in the Premier League this weekend.

Ozil’s Arsenal future is cast in doubt, the World Cup winner has under ten-months remaining on his contract with the north London based club.