Arsenal legend Lee Dixon claims Mesut Ozil has lost hunger after contract hike
The Gunners full-back believes the German playmaker has 'softened' since being awarded a £350,000-per-week deal - the biggest in the club's history
LEE DIXON reckons Mesut Ozil is playing in the comfort zone and lacks hunger and drive after being handed his huge salary.
The former Arsenal defender has defended the hardline approach taken by Arsenal boss Unai Emery towards the under-firing German playmaker.
Though Ozil scored against Bournemouth midweek, it was only his third start in 13 matches as he is eased back into the first team. He was only given an 18-minute cameo in the North London derby on Saturday.
Ozil, 30, is the club’s highest paid player on £350,000-per-week yet he has been heavily criticised for his substandard displays.
Dixon told SunSport: “Signing him up on a big deal was seen as a must not to lose him.
“But the character of the player has to be taken into consideration.
“When you give somebody that amount of money it probably wouldn’t affect some players. But it looks as if it has softened him.
“He doesn’t look driven, he doesn’t look hungry, and when that happens you have a problem.
“You need Ozil firing as well as the ability of the team to carry him at times when he is not quite functioning.
“There is no doubt that the team needs a player like Ozil playing at his best.
“Even an Ozil not quite at his best because the creativity that seems to be lacking from that midfield area, from the no.10 area, stands out a mile.”
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Dixon, 54, played with plenty of tough characters during his Arsenal career and says the strongest dressing rooms controlled themselves.
Speaking on behalf of the new , Dixon added: “Emery has played it really well. He has inherited a problem that, as the manager, he sees fit to deal with it the way he has done.
“The manager has to be in control. Once the control starts to ebb away not only do you get into a fight with the player but you also affect the dressing room.
“There has to be a policing of that dressing room from the manager and from the inside.
“If you get one that policies itself, it takes a lot of pressure off the manager, it also sees everyone take accountability and responsibility for each other.
“He has let himself down over this period of time.
“If he was in a dressing room I played in, there would have been a sit-down chat and a talking from inside.”
Lee Dixon helped launch the FA Matchday App, which enables grassroots players to pay their match fees using PayPal. The FA has teamed up with PayPal to help grassroots football thrive in the digital age. Visit for more