Back to the Arsenal Newsfeed

Per Mertesacker suggests Mesut Ozil's 'focus has changed' because he got MARRIED and started a family with football no longer the priority for Arsenal's £350,000-a-week outcast

Former Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker has suggested Mesut Ozil's focus has shifted away from football with the midfielder currently frozen out of Mikel Arteta's first-team squad.

The 31-year-old initially seemed to be part of Arteta's plans when he was appointed last December but he has not played since March after falling firmly out of favour.

Despite being the highest paid player at the club with earnings of £350,000-per-week, Ozil has not featured this season and has also been left out of Arsenal's Europa League squad.

Per Mertesacker has suggested that Mesut Ozil's priorities have shifted away from football

The midfielder has not played since March despite being the highest paid player at the club

The midfielder also looks set to miss out on Arteta's final 25-man Premier League squad, meaning he faces the prospect of no competitive football until at least January.