Mesut Ozil answers rumours of Wenger influencing his future

Oli Fisher
Mesut Ozil: Arsenal future unclear

Mesut Ozil: Arsenal future unclear

Mesut Ozil has said his Arsenal future may not now hinge on whether Arsene Wenger stays with the Gunners.

German playmaker Ozil indicated in January that he wished to know what Wenger would be doing at the end of the season before committing to a new contract.

Arsenal’s French manager reaches the end of his current deal in the summer and has yet to commit to staying.

Following a poor run of results there have been calls for Wenger to make way for a new manager, after a near 21-year stay at the club.

Ozil has a year remaining on his own contract, and told German newspaper Bild am Samstag that renewal talks were on hold.

He said: “There were talks with the Arsenal management. However, I am currently concentrating on the current season, just like the Arsenal management.”

On Wenger, the 28-year-old said: “I’ve always said that I feel good at Arsenal: the club, the fans, the city – it’s all here.

“Arsene Wenger was also one of the main reasons why I came to Arsenal. But I also know that in football things can sometimes move quickly and much differently to how you planned them.

“Therefore it would be wrong to say that my future only depends on the manager.”

Ozil said he finds London “incredibly interesting” and added: “I can imagine living here after my career. Perhaps splitting my time between London and Germany.”

And despite suffering more Champions League disappointment, with the 10-2 aggregate last-16 defeat to Bayern Munich, Ozil still dreams of the day the north London side conquer Europe.

He said: “You are never satisfied as an athlete. You need this motivation. I would still like to win the Champions League one day. Preferably with Arsenal.”