Arsenal legend Keown blasts Ozil in scathing critique

Mesut Ozil has “already left” Arsenal, according to the club’s former defender Martin Keown.

Ozil has just one year remaining on his current contract with Arsenal, and is locked in negotiations with the club.

He is not expected to extend his deal however, and Inter Milan are thought to be interested in the German’s services.

Manchester United have also expressed an initial interest, although they have their reservations over the German.

Keown has offered similar sentiments in a scathing critique.

“I think he’s testing Wenger more than any other player has,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live. “I think it was Belarus the other week, he didn’t fancy going. He didn’t want to go.

“Suddenly he was injured again, he played nine minutes against West Bromwich Albion on the Monday, so how did he get injured there?

“I think in some departments he’s already left. Psychologically, mentally, he’s already left the football club. Maybe Wenger is now trying to do the best deal he can to get some compensation for him.

“I think [Wenger] doesn’t want that sort of player around the youngsters in the group. They played exceptionally well at Chelsea, where [Alex] Iwobi did a really manful job – I know he hasn’t got the talent of Ozil, of course, but suddenly Arsenal could compete in both departments defensively and attacking-wise. It was probably the best performance I’ve seen in a couple of years.

“I was really impressed and it seemed like every player was giving their best. Sanchez is different. He loves playing football, just give him a ball and he’ll play and that’s all he wants to do. But Ozil, I think he’s downed tools, he wants to go and it’s going to get messy.”