Arsene Wenger ‘can’t trust’ Arsenal star anymore says Martin Keown
Arsenal beat West Brom 2-0 at the Emirates on Monday night but were without star man Mesut Ozil.
The playmaker of Turkish origin did not start for the Gunners.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger put Ozil’s absence down to injury but club legend and football puntit Martin Keown believes there could be another reason.
Keown feels that Wenger does not trust Ozil anymore and that the 2014 World Cup winner could struggle for playing time moving forwards.
“Ozil … is the one I wouldn’t trust as much mentally, and I believe he’s not playing tonight because the gaffer really can’t trust him anymore,” Keown told BBC 5 Live. “I think it’s a huge story that Ozil doesn’t play tonight.
“If you look at their pre-seasons, Ozil wasn’t in the German squad in the summer, he came back on the very first day of pre-season, and didn’t then start the season, there was a bit of suspicion around him.
“Last year he went missing for a couple of months and I think that’s his tactic in terms of getting away from the football club.
“I don’t know – but I have a feeling that he’s going to take his reliability away from selection.”
Ozil and Alexis Sanchez were almost guaranteed first team football if they were fit last season.
Sanchez and Ozil have found playing time harder to come by this season.
Ozil has made just four Premier League starts this season and has yet to score or provide an assist.
Both Ozil and Sanchez have under 12 months remaining on their current contract but have yet to sign a new deal.
The Gunners take on BATE next in the Europa League group stage on Thursday at the Borisov Arena.
