Wright wades in as Oezil hits out
FORMER GREAT: SIGN A DEAL IF YOU FEEL THAT STRONGLY
Arsenal players told to ‘stop acting like babies and kids’.
Arsenal great Ian Wright has branded Mesut Oezil’s complaints about the criticism he receives from former players “laughable” in view of his failure to sign a new contract.
In a long Facebook post on Saturday, Oezil hit out at his critics in the media and told Arsenal’s former players to “stop talking and start supporting”.
But with the German playmaker, 28, still to extend a contract that expires at the end of the season, Wright says Oezil is in no position to tell anyone what to do.
“Sign a contract if you feel that strongly about people criticising the team, because you’re somebody who is integral to Arsenal’s success,” Wright told BBC Radio 5 Live on Sunday.
“You’re not signing a deal and you’ll probably continue to hide behind the fact that (Alexis) Sanchez is one that everybody’s going to say, ‘Is he going to go?’
“Why haven’t you signed yet? If you feel that strongly, why haven’t you signed yet?
“A player not actually performing on the pitch is coming out, calling people out, and he’s not signing a contract. It’s laughable.”
Consecutive losses to Stoke City and Liverpool, who thrashed Arsenal 4-0 at Anfield, have left Arsene Wenger’s side in 16th place in the Premier League.
Former midfielder Emmanuel Petit told the Sunday Mirror Oezil and his team-mates needed someone to tell them “not to act like babies and kids”.
Wright defended the right of former players to criticise the current regime.
“We all feel the same because we’re all passionate and we all love the club,” he said.
“What are we supposed to say? That they’re unbelievable? Because they’re not.
“We’re not talking about former players criticising a team that’s charging up the league and winning leagues.
“Yes, we’ve won the FA Cup and when they’ve done that, they’ve rightfully been praised. But we’re talking about a team that’s under-performing.
“Not just the team – people in the boardroom, the manager with his decisions, everybody.”