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Why isn’t Mesut Ozil playing for Arsenal? Gunners playmaker’s absence explained

When Mesut Ozil joined Arsenal from Real Madrid in 2013 he was widely considered among the best players in the world and quickly established himself as a key component in the Gunners team.

Under Arsene Wenger, the World Cup winner helped the North London outfit to three FA Cups and was named the club's player of the season in 2015-16 as they finished second in the Premier League.

However, he has endured an alarming downturn in fortunes at the Emirates in recent seasons, with below-par performances and off-field issues contributing to a somewhat toxic experience for the German.