"I'll decide my future NOT Arsenal" - Mesut Özil

The transfer saga of Mesut Özil and his future has continued to cause debate between the club and the player.

The German international is currently the highest paid player with a weekly wage of 350,000 pounds per week.

Recall that in 2017, Arsenal handed Özil a contract extension and decided to let Ramsey leave as free agent and Alexis Sanchez joined Manchester United I a player swap which Henrikh Mkhitaryan move to Arsenal.

Since the German pen the deal, he has been criticized for his performances, especially in big games for Arsenal.

The former Real Madrid star has come out to state that he will decide when to leave the club.

Speaking to The Athletic, Özil said: “My position is clear. I’m here through to the last day of our agreement and I’ll give everything I have for this club. 

“Situations like these will never break me, they only make me stronger. I showed in the past that I can come back into the team and I will show it again.

“I’ll decide when I go, not other people. I didn’t sign for two or three years, I signed for four and that should be respected by everyone. "

Recall that Arsenal signed Mesut Özil from Real Madrid for a then club record fee and he's first season at Emirates saw him rack up the highest assist in the league.

But the numbers for the German has dropped over the years which saw he fell out of favour under former manager Unai Emery who now manages Villarreal.

The world cup winner also revealed that he still has soft spot for the north London side.

Özil said: “Things have obviously been difficult but I love Arsenal, I love to work there, I love the people in the club — the real people, those I’ve been with for a long time — and I love London, it’s my home.

“Whatever happened in the last two seasons, I’m happy and very strong mentally. I never give up on anything. I want to help my team and I’ll fight for it. If I’m fit, I know what I can do on the pitch.”

Mikel Arteta is yet to play Özil since the league restarted and he has only started two games since Arteta's appointment in January.

But the world cup winner has said that he will be ready if Arteta decides to call him back into the team.

He continued: “When a player wants to leave and the club says no, the player must accept it unless they find a solution together. So when a club wants a player to leave and the player says no, the club must accept it unless a solution can be found together. I don’t want to leave, so that’s it.

“In 2018, I had plenty of options that would have earned me far more money as a free agent, but I committed myself to Arsenal because this was the club and the fanbase I wanted to play for. In that sense, nothing has changed. Mikel knows my quality and I will be ready when he needs me.

“I’m not going into pre-season thinking, ‘Final year, I can chill — I know I don’t play’. These are not easy times for Arsenal and I want to help."

Mesut Özil is currently on holiday with his wife and daughter in Turkey. He was granted permission by the club weeks ago.

“I still have a lot to offer and I train as hard as I can, whether I’m in the squad or not. If you’re called in, you have to be prepared. I’m doing all the necessary work on the pitch, with the fitness coach and in the gym. This is all I can do,” he added.