END OF AN ERA
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said it is better for both parties if outcast Mesut Ozil’s future is resolved this month.
Speaking to the press ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup tie against Newcastle, the Spanish manager said: “I think every player wants to play football, that is why we pick this profession and we are so lucky to be doing what we do. For every player that is not playing it is hard.
“I don’t know what is going to happen, obviously now he is free to negotiate with other clubs. We will discuss internally what is the best situation for him in the near future, with the player and the agent, and try and find the best solution for everyone.
“If something is sorted this month, it is because it is good for both parties – for Mesut and his future and good for the club.
“If that is the case we will move forward, if it is not the case then he will continue here. He has been training with us, but he had some days [off] because we decided to give him some days for something personal. But he has been training with us.
“We know we have a really important player that is one of the key players in the past few seasons for this football club.
“We had to make a decision, I made it, I knew the consequences of it and now are going to have to make another one in January and we will put in the balance what is good for the club, the best thing for the team and what the intension of the player are and try and find the right solutions.”