OneFootball
Phil Costa·23 October 2020
OneFootball
Phil Costa·23 October 2020
Mesut Özil’s agent has accused Mikel Arteta and Arsenal of being dishonest after his client was exiled by the club.
Özil was left out of Arsenal’s squads for the Europa League and Premier League this season, meaning he cannot play competitive football until the January window opens.
The 32-year-old then responded on social media and claimed his loyalty was not being reciprocated, before Arteta insisted his omission was purely football related.
Dr Erkut Sögüt, however, has now launched a scathing attack on the club and claims they are lying to fans about his client’s exclusion.
“Arsenal fans deserve an honest explanation, not Arteta saying ‘I failed Özil’,” he told ESPN FC.
“You didn’t fail Özil: you failed to be fair, honest and transparent and treat someone with respect who has a contract and was loyal all the time.
“Every single person outside knows he hasn’t treated him fairly. He didn’t give him a chance to show himself this season.
“You have to understand the bigger picture,” Sögüt added. “The [Uighur situation] created problems for the whole Premier League, not just Arsenal.
“He expected to get more support from the club. It is not talking about politics, it is about human rights, putting people in detention centres.
“Mesut cannot speak now because of confidentiality, but one day he will, and we’ll see what people think.”
“Mesut is 32 years old. He has a few more years in his career, but it is more about the way of treatment. Mesut is someone who fights for his rights.
“The contract was a big commitment for him. He could have left for another club like Alexis Sánchez did.
“He could have left and got a £30m signing-on fee as a free agent at the peak of his career. But he stayed loyal.
“Maybe the club will change their position in January and register him. You never know what will happen.”
Özil started ten Premier League matches in a row pre-lockdown, but has not played a single minute since football resumed in June.