Gunner a £100m star says Arsene
ARSENE WENGER claims it would cost Arsenal £100m to replace misfit forward Mesut Ozil.
But the former Gunners boss admits that handing the ex-Germany star a bumper new contract worth £350,000 a week last year just invited Ozil to enter his “comfort zone”.
Ozil has hardly featured for new boss Unai Emery and was not in the squad for last week’s Europa League clash with BATE Borisov despite his return to training after illness.
Wenger, who was in charge when the 30-year-old signed his new deal, said: “Ozil has a contract but if you want to buy the same player as Ozil you will have to spend £100m.
“To buy players of top, top quality you need £100m, so the decision you have to make is, do we extend the contract which will cost us nothing, or do we have real money to buy a player?
“It’s not much less expensive. He’s a topclass player. A good player today is between £50m-100m.”
Emery has repeatedly insisted in public that Ozil is part of his plans and will be picked when he is needed.
But in private the relationship between the pair is strained, with Ozil starting just 13 Premier League games this season and his commitment and performances often called into question.
Wenger said: “Most of the time we think when we sign a player for five years now we have a good player for five years.
“But that doesn’t necessarily mean they play at their best. It’s a bit inviting them to be in their comfort zone.”
Ozil has managed three goals and one assist in 14 league games this season, and there is an acceptance at the club that is not good enough for a player who is paid so handsomely.
A move to China is one possible option for Ozil should he decide to leave the club, and there is also interest in him in Italy, notably Inter Milan, if an agreement can be reached over his wages.
Ozil, whose deal runs until 2021, made 196 Arsenal appearances under Wenger, scoring 37 goals and setting up another 71.