‘Mesut Ozil is NOT the solution for Arsenal… if you think he is, you’re in serious trouble’ – Tony Cascarino dismisses calls for ‘self-important’ Gunners outcast to return

Tony Cascarino has strongly rejected calls for Mesut Ozil to return to this struggling Arsenal side, after the Gunners’ disastrous first half of the season.

A group of supporters have been calling for Ozil to return to the team from his long first-team exile, to give Arsenal a much-needed creative boost.

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Ozil is the club’s longest-serving and highest-paid player, but hasn’t played a game since March after Mikel Arteta left the playmaker out of his Premier League and Europa League squads for this term.

And it appears the decision has left egg on the manager’s face, with Arsenal crying out for a creative outlet as they sit 15th in the Premier League after just four wins from their opening 14 games.

The Gunners’ numerous problems were laid bare once again in their 2-1 defeat to Everton on Saturday, a result which means they will enter the Christmas period in the bottom six and apparently facing a relegation battle.

Some fans want Ozil to be called back from his exile to give the side an attacking spark. The German is fit, and has insisted he has no plans to leave in January before his contract expires at the end of the season.

Squad rules mean he can be called back, too, with Arteta allowed to tinker with his team in January.

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But Cascarino has explained why Ozil definitely is NOT the solution to Arteta’s woes.

Speaking on the Weekend Sports Breakfast, the former Chelsea striker said: “I’ve always believed if you only need a player for one minute for one game in a season, if you need to use him, use him.

“But the situation with Ozil is much deeper. He’s shown very little intent, he makes very sarcastic remarks on social media…

“If you need Mesut Ozil now, you’re in serious trouble in my opinion.

“I don't like gifted footballers who think they can just turn up and they’re more important than the club, and I feel that with Ozil.

“He thinks he’s so important, in a strange way. He’s not!

“I said a couple of weeks ago, he’s played one full game since January this year, and in his last six games for Arsenal he was substituted five times.

“Mesut Ozil is not your solution, and if you think he is then you’re seriously in trouble.”