Arsenal boss Wenger brushes aside rumours of Ozil going to Barca
LONDON: Arsenal head coach Arsene Wenger brushed aside talk of star attacking midfielder Mesut Ozil making a switch to Spanish soccer giants FC Barcelona. “What kind of control can I have over that? All these people have agents who can talk to anybody. That doesn’t disturb people, that happens all through their career,” Wenger was quoted as saying by ESPNFC on Friday. The 29-year-old is out of contract at the Emirates Stadium at the end of the season.
Arsenal, currently lying sixth on the table, face Burnley in an away fixture. Manchester United and Fenerbahce are also linked with moves for the player.
Chile star Alexis Sanchez has also been linked to a move away from the club but Wenger said he is not worried about fielding the pair ahead of Sunday’s trip to Burnley. “They are honest. I don’t question their honesty,” the Frenchman said.
“Nobody knows what will happen when the players reach the end of their contracts. Our worry is to perform on Sunday. They want to turn up and put in good performances. I have no concerns. I am more concerned about team performance.
“Ozil and Alexis are praised when the team is doing well because of them, and when the team doesn’t do well they get more criticism. I’m more concerned that the team focuses on strong performances. “My worry is on Sunday. After that, I will care about the second half of the season later,’’ Wenger added.