Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil has said “loyalty is hard to come by” as he expressed his disappointment at being omitted from the club’s Premier League squad list.
The highest-paid Gunner was left out of both the Europa League and domestic lists, which means he will not be available until at least January and has likely played his last match for the club.
The German World Cup winner played in every Premier League game under Mikel Arteta until last season was halted due to the coronavirus pandemic – and has not featured since.
In a statement, the 32-year-old said he was “saddened” by the decision of the club to omit him from the squad.
Ozil’s £350,000-a-week contract expires at the end of the season – his eighth at the club – but he promised he would “not let my eighth season at Arsenal end like this”.
“This is a difficult message to write to the Arsenal fans that I’ve played for over the past few years,” Ozil said on Instagram.
“I’m really deeply disappointed by the fact that I have not been registered for the Premier League season for the time being.
“Upon signing my new contract in 2018, I pledged my loyalty and allegiance to the club that I love, Arsenal, and it saddens me that this has not been reciprocated.
“As I have just found out, loyalty is hard to come by nowadays. I’ve always tried to remain positive from week to week that there’s maybe a chance to get back in the squad soon again. That’s why I kept silent so far.”
