Players refusing wage cuts ‘shows lack of leadership at Arsenal’ claims Ray Parlour, but he says criticism of Mesut Ozil is out of order

Arsenal legend Ray Parlour claims the reports three players have refused to take a pay cut during the coronavirus crisis ‘shows a lack of leadership’ at the club.

However, he insisted Mesut Ozil should NOT be singled out for blame as he has been over the past week, and says the names of the other two players to say ‘no’ should also be made public.

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The German star has faced his latest backlash from Gunners fans, and this time also the wider public, after a story was leaked to the press naming him as one of three Arsenal players to reject a suggested 12.5 per cent wage reduction.

Ozil has been hammered for not playing his part during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite being the club’s highest earner on £350,000-a-week.

Parlour, though, insists how much he is paid ‘should not come into it’.

And the former Gunners midfielder believes the fact the whole squad didn’t come to a collective decision shows poor leadership in the dressing room - particularly from current captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Parlour insisted legendary former skippers Tony Adams and Patrick Vieira would have got all the players on board.

“It shows a lack of leadership at Arsenal, again,” Parlour said on Friday’s talkSPORT Breakfast.

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“In my era Tony Adams was the captain and he would have gone round to every single player and said, ‘we all agree this together – we either all do it, or none of us do it.’

“And I would have agreed: ‘Yep, I totally agree Tone, I’m going to do it as well’.

“It would have been a decision that everybody does it, and Patrick Vieira when he was captain would have done exactly the same.

“It’s down to the players, there wouldn’t have been a meeting with the manager or anybody like that, it would be done by them.

“Vieira would have been on the phone saying, ‘this is the plan the club wants to do, what is the feedback?’ And then you all agree.

“It’s up to the skipper to do it. He is the spokesman and you’ve got to go with the majority.”

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Ozil has received plenty of backing over his decision, with reports claiming the playmaker IS willing to contribute and only wants to wait to see the full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic before he commits.

Darren Bent and Ally McCoist both defended Ozil on talkSPORT and pointed out his brilliant charity work, amid claims he may donate that 12.5 per cent to charity rather give up his wages for a club backed by a billionaire owner.

Boyhood Arsenal fan Bent also slammed the ‘disgusting’ criticism Ozil has faced since his name was leaked.

And Parlour has also defended the former Germany international.

“Ozil is an easy target,” he added.

“We always look at wages, but I don’t think wages should come into it.

“It’s certainly not his fault he’s on £350,000-a-week. I look at it and say that’s Arsenal’s mistake to give him that money, you’re never going to turn that down.

“If there are three players who haven’t agreed they should all be named, why is it only Mesut Ozil?

“It’s negative news again that Arsenal doesn’t need, especially at this time.”

Watch a clip of Ray Parlour on the talkSPORT Breakfast above