Mesut Ozil issues statement to hit out at Mikel Arteta after being left out of Arsenal squad: ‘Loyalty is hard to come by nowadays’

Midfielder has chosen to speak out publicly after being omitted from Arsenal’s squads for the Premier League and Europa League this season after falling out with head coach Arteta

Mesut Ozil issued a scathing assessment to criticise Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta for leaving him out of his squad (PA)

Mesut Ozil has issued a statement to express his “deep disappointment” with Mikel Arteta’s decision to leave him out of Arsenal’s 25-man Premier League squad, having also been omitted from their European plans this season.

The out-of-favour German has not featured for Arsenal once since the sport restarted following the coronavirus pandemic began, and the rift between the attacking midfielder and the club has continued to grow with each week since the 2020/21 season began.

The 32-year-old claimed he has learnt that “loyalty is hard to come by” the hard way, and has chosen to speak out publicly now that his chances of playing for the club again appear to have been dashed for good.

In a statement released on his Twitter page, Ozil said: “This is a difficult message to write to the Arsenal fans that I’ve played for over the past few years. I’m really deeply disappointed by the fact that I have not been registered for the Premier League season for the time being.

“Upon signing my contract in 2018, I pledged my loyalty and allegiance to the club that I love, Arsenal, and it saddens me that this has not been reciprocated. As I have just found out, loyalty is hard to come by nowadays. I’ve always tried to remain positive from week to week that there’s maybe a chance to get back in the squad soon again. That’s why I kept silent so far.

“Before the coronavirus break I was really happy with the development under our new coach Mikel Arteta - we’ve been on a positive way and I would say my performances were on a really good level. But then things changed, again, and I was not (sic) longer allowed to play football for Arsenal.

“What else can I say? London still feels like home, I still have many good friends in this team, and I still feel a strong connection with the fans of this club. No matter what, I will keep fighting for my chance and not let my eighth season at Arsenal end like this. I can promise you that this hard decision won’t change anything in my mindset - I will continue to train as best as I can and wherever possible use my voice against inhumanity and for justice.”

Ozil, who remains Arsenal’s highest earner on the £350,000-a-week contract that he signed little more than two years ago, recently saw himself at odds with the club following his public support of sacked mascot Gunnersaurus, a role carried out by supporter liaison officer Jerry Quy, while they also clashed over Ozil’s condemnation of China’s treatment of Uighur Muslims.