Arsenal aim to force Ozil transfer this summer by freezing him out of first team to save millions
UNAI EMERY is leaving Mesut Ozil out of the Arsenal squad in an attempt to force him out of the club in the summer.
BBC Sport journalist David Ornstein revealed that the Gunners are desperate to save millions by taking him off the wage bill.
Ozil, 30, took advantage of Alexis Sanchez's move to Manchester United in January by signing a staggering deal worth £350,000-a-week until 2021.
The deal upset a number of people within the club, with some thinking the ex-Germany international didn't deserve a new contract while others thought the wages on offer were far too much.
Ozil has made just 13 Premier League starts this season and was an unused substitute in the 3-1 defeat to Manchester City at the weekend.
Last year he became the fastest player in Premier League history to reach 50 assists - in 141 appearances - but in this campaign he has mustered just one.
Mesut Ozil's Premier League stats
Goals per match
Arsenal average: 0.19
2018-19 average: 0.21
Assists per match
Arsenal average: 0.32
2018-19 average: 0.07
Passes per match
Arsenal average: 63.22
2018-19 average: 45.07
Shooting accuracy
Arsenal average: 45 per cent
2018-19 average: 50 per cent
Recoveries per match
Arsenal average: 4.30
2018-19 average: 3.35
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The January signing of Denis Suarez appears to have further pushed Ozil down the pecking order.
However, the uncertainty over his future is not thought to be having an impact on morale inside the dressing room.
But his huge wages mean Arsenal are struggling to find a potential buyer and it continues to have an impact on their own transfer plans.
Emery was only allowed to pursue loan targets in January with views to a permanent deal and is said to only have a budget of £40million in the summer unless he can raise cash elsewhere.