This archive report was first published on 1 July 2020.
On July 1, 2020, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta defended Mesut Ozil's £350,000-a-week salary, stating that the German midfielder's enormous earnings were never a factor in his selection for games.
Ozil, who joined Arsenal in 2013 and signed a new deal in 2018, has not played a minute of football since the season resumed, sparking speculation about his future at the club.
Despite his recent lack of action, Arteta insisted that Ozil's salary was not a concern, saying, "Never. That is an agreement the player and the club were really happy to do. To move ahead. It’s never something I question."
Arteta also emphasized the importance of giving players the opportunity to perform at their best, stating, "Everybody I have in the squad, my job is to get the maximum out of them."
With Ozil set to miss Arsenal's match against Norwich on Wednesday due to injury, Arteta's comments have sparked debate about the German midfielder's future at the club.
