Ozil discusses Arsenal’s title failure and his Gunners future

Oli Fisher
Mesut Ozil: Was the top assister in the Prem last season.

Mesut Ozil: Was the top assister in the Prem last season.

Mesut Ozil believes that dropped points against lesser clubs was the reason for Arsenal not mounting a serious title challenge.

Sunday’s 4-0 drubbing of Aston Villa combined with Spurs’ 5-1 defeat at Newcastle meant the Gunners snatched second place on the final day of the season.

Ozil, a German international, will reportedly be offered a contract extension worth £200,000 per week – a deal that would make him the highest paid player at the club. However, reports last month seemed to suggest the 27-year-old is in no hurry to extend at Arsenal.

“We dropped a lot of points which we shouldn’t have dropped against smaller teams and that was the point in the season where we were just not strong enough as a team to take a one point sometimes and go ahead,” Ozil said.

“Especially after the Barcelona game, we lost points. That was the time in the team where we weren’t good enough to take the points and go.”

There has been rumours linking Ozil with a move to Turkey, or possibly even a switch to Premier League rivals Manchester United.

“I still have two years contract with Arsenal, as you know,” he said, speaking Monday during a visit to the Arsenal Soccer School in Dubai, “and we will be in talks with the club and we’ll see what happens in the future.

“But as I said, now I’m concentrating on Euro 2016 in France, which is very important for me and my team after the last World Cup. Then later on, I will see what I do with Arsenal.”

Despite failing to challenge seriously for the title this season, Arsenal secured Champions League football for the 19th straight season.

“Firstly, it was important to qualify directly to the Champions League,

“To be second in the last game of the season and to also be on top of Tottenham was also good for us and good for our fans. It was a good finish to the season.”