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MESUT OZIL was wrong to reject a 12.5 per cent pay cut at Arsenal, a poll of SunSport readers has found.

Some 75 per cent of those asked believe the £350,000-a-week playmaker should have agreed to have his enormous wages slashed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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 More than 75 per cent of SunSport readers believe Ozil was wrong to reject a 12.5 per cent pay cut
More than 75 per cent of SunSport readers believe Ozil was wrong to reject a 12.5 per cent pay cutCredit: Getty Images - Getty

Of the 7,000 of you quizzed, just under 19 per cent say the German, 31, was correct to say no to his pay being cut.

The 2014 World Cup winner is believed to be one of three players who have not accepted the proposal by the club to help them financially during the pandemic.

Arsenal fan Piers Morgan singled out Ozil when he branded him "disgraceful" for his decision.

The Good Morning Britain host said: "Shame on you Mesut Ozil. Shame on you.

"Some of the younger players, who are on far less money than you, are taking a 12.5 per cent pay cut, a minuscule drop in the ocean for you.

"You don’t want to do it because you want to see how the financial situation plays out while you are sitting on your backside on your PlayStation every night rather than actually playing football. Really?"

Ozil - who would still earn more than £300,000-a-week after a pay cut - is believed to be one of three Gunners stars saying no to their wages being docked until March 2021.


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However, Ozil is said to be willing to reduce his salary in the future, but only after the financial impact on football of coronavirus becomes clear, according to the .

Arsenal confirmed on Monday that they were the first Premier League club to agree wage cuts with their squad.

But should Mikel Arteta's side qualify for the Champions League either this season or next, then the players would be due a large bonus as part of the agreement.

And any players sold for a profit will also be due to get their money refunded.

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Ozil's agent Dr Erkut Sogut recently said footballers should not take pay cuts with wage deferrals being a better option – something the PFA also agrees with.

He said: "Deferral is an option but not to agree a cut today when the clubs may still make the same profit as last year.

"What the exact financial impact is on the clubs, we can see three to six months later – but we can’t see it today."

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