Arsenal history repeated as Ozil banished from Fenerbahce
Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta is presumably nodding sagely somewhere after Fenerbahce excluded Mesut Ozil from their first-team squad.
Ozil has failed to recapture his former glory in Turkey after joining Fenerbahce as a free agent in January 2021. The 33-year-old has scored nine goals and assisted three more in 37 appearances.
But the opportunity to improve on that record is unlikely to present itself after he was excluded from the squad following an argument with interim manager Ismail Kartal.
Fenerbahce published a 26-word statement on their website to confirm the decision, the translation of which read:
‘Our Football A-Team players Mesut Özil and Ozan Tufan were excluded from the squad as per the decision taken. It is announced to the public.’
Numerous outlets have reported an update on the situation, with Football.London claiming there was ‘a verbal altercation’ between Ozil, former Watford loanee Tufan and coach Kartal. The Times corroborate that suggestion.
Ozil, who was substituted at half-time in the recent win over Konyaspor, when the disagreement is said to have taken place, was criticised by Fener president Ali Koc last November.
“Ozil wants to play more,” he said. “From now on, he needs to focus on his game and keep his commercial interests out of it. He needs to think about contributing to Fenerbahce.
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“Our coach also needs to try to figure out how to get the most out of Ozil. There is not a problem, despite what the media says. Mesut is unhappy because he does not play regularly.”
The developments may come as no surprise to Arsenal and Arteta, who similarly exiled the German from his side ahead of a protracted departure.
Ozil played his last match for Arsenal in March 2020, being dropped for the first game back after lockdown and then being omitted from the club’s Premier and Europa League squads.
Arsenal were ‘left furious’ by his decision to give an interview to The Athletic that August and Ozil later accused the Gunners of lacking ‘loyalty’.
The player’s presence in the team was allowing divisions to form and Arsenal have kicked on since his release. They even celebrate wins now. The pr*cks.
