Arsenal star Masoud Ozil will not be available during his
prospective team’s match against Chelsea on Saturday in the
FA Cup final, but rather he will not be in Britain at first.
The sports website “Ghoul” revealed that the German playmaker
traveled to Turkey, after obtaining permission from Arsenal
coach Mikel Arteta, who removed it from his accounts during
the meeting held at Wembley Stadium.
Ozil, 31, has not participated in any match for Arsenal since
the resumption of football activity in Britain last June, amid
the prospects of his departure from the capital club in
the summer transfer period.
The name Ozil has been linked to the transfer to Fenerbahce of
Turkey or to one of the clubs in the American League, knowing
that his current contract with “Gunners” expires in the summer of next year.
In the press conference leading up to the meeting, Artita tried
to play down the importance of the reports that pointed to
the tense relationship with Ozil. He said: “Sometimes we have
to try to recruit the players at the right time and the right
position, to be comfortable on the field and perform what
is required of them.”
He continued, “There is always a place for a player with his abilities.”
Ozil, who had announced his retirement from international play
earlier, had confirmed more than once that he was ready to
participate in the meetings, but Arteta refused to change his
position on the player with sometimes controversial positions.
Ozil has played 254 matches with Arsenal since he moved in
2013 from Real Madrid, scoring 44 goals and making 77 in all
competitions with the London team.
