'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
What's the rumour?
Arsenal boss Unai Emery is reportedly ready to let go of the services of German playmaker Mesut Ozil in this transfer window.
In case you didn't know...
Since Wenger's departure, Ozil has had a polarising time in the Arsenal team: from being given the captain's armband to being left out from the squad in multiple games.
While Emery appears to favour no players, Ozil's notable absence from the team in different games, including their loss to West Ham last weekend, despite having trained for them, has caused a storm among fans and pundits alike.
The heart of the matter
The Daily Mail reports that Emery is now willing to let Ozil leave before the end of the January transfer window in order to free up his hefty wages at the Emirates.
Following the Alexis Sanchez and Henrikh Mkhitaryan swap, the 2014 World Cup winner became the team's highest earner with a staggering £350k-a-week deal signed with the club, which runs till 2021.
Emery reportedly wants to free up funds to be able to sign players himself, after he admitted that Arsenal are facing the current transfer window without any funds and can only afford to loan players.
Rumour rating: 6/10
Ozil's recent absences from games goes to show how much the German's style fits in Emery's tactical plans. Despite commanding the highest salary, the former Real Madrid man has continually been left out of the team for strange reasons.
It remains to be seen if Arsenal continues to pay a player that is seemingly not in the manager's plans, especially considering the Premier League’s new cost control measures and the fact that the club could use funds to bring in crucial players particularly at the defence.
Video
What's next?
Arsenal ruined chances to see the team progress to a top-four finish after their loss to West Ham, especially as Manchester United have now moved level on points after defeating the Spurs on Sunday.
The team is next set to face Chelsea in a much-awaited derby this Saturday.
