Manchester United star Juan Mata believes it has gone wrong for Mesut Ozil at Arsenal because the No.10 role has become “extinct” in football now.
Ozil has played only once in the Premier League so far this season with a further appearance against Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup.
He has struggled to even make the matchday squad in recent weeks with his future at the club looking increasingly bleak.
Arsenal are keen to shift his £350,000-a-week salary with Fenerbahce in pole position to secure a loan move for the German midfielder in the January window.
And Mata says it is Ozil’s role that has caused him to fall down the pecking order at the Emirates. The United midfielder told The Athletic: “This type of player, this pure No 10, is … how do you say? Extinct? Maybe not extinct, but not as used as before.
“In the past, there was always this pure No 10, behind the striker or the two strikers, depending on the team.
“With different systems now, that position has evolved into a different one but these are players I like, where natural talent brings the best of them and they can change a game with a pass or something that nobody else sees.”
When Ozil was asked if he’d be leaving the club by The Athletic , he said: “No. I have a contract until the summer of 2021 and I will be staying until then.
“When I signed the new deal, I thought about it very carefully and said it was one of the most important decisions of my footballing career.
“I didn’t want to stay for just one or two more years, I wanted to commit my future to Arsenal and the club wanted me to do the same.
“You can go through difficult times, like this, but that is no reason to run away and I’m not going to. I’m here until at least 2021.
“I said that Arsene Wenger was a big factor in me joining Arsenal — and he was — but ultimately I signed for the club.
“Even when Arsene announced he was leaving, I wanted to stay because I love playing for Arsenal and that’s why I’ve been here for six years.
