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Arsenal chief Vinai Venkatesham hits back at suggestion that financial interests in China were behind club's decision to distance themselves from Mesut Ozil's comments on the country's mistreatment of the Uighur Muslim community

Arsenal chief executive Vinai Venkatesham has rejected claims that the club's decision to distance themselves from Mesut Ozil's comments on China's treatment of Uighur Muslims was financially motivated.

The former Gunners and Germany star posted on his Instagram account in December 2019 that Uighurs were 'warriors who resist persecution', the same time as the United Nations were reporting that millions were being forced into prison by Chinese authorities in the north-western region of Xinjiang.

But the club reacted a few days later to the German's comments, declaring in a statement: 'The content published is Özil's personal opinion.