Martin Keown: Arsenal Star Refused To Travel For BATE Borisov Clash

By The Editor
on 5th October 2017

Martin Keown launches attack on Mesut Ozil

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Martin Keown revealed that Mesut Ozil “didn’t fancy” travelling with the squad for last week’s Europa League clash at BATE Borisov, the former defender said on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Speaking alongside the Mirror’s John Cross about Ozil’s current contractual situation, Keown hinted that all may not be well between the German wizard and Arsene Wenger.

Ozil has made one start since the debacle at Anfield and has been left out of the squad for five of our last six games.

His absence hasn’t really affected the team negatively, with the goalless draw at Chelsea becoming the catalyst behind four consecutive wins in all competitions.

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“I think he’s testing [Arsene] Wenger more than any other player has,” Keown told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“I think it was Belarus the other week, he didn’t fancy going. He didn’t want to go.

“Suddenly he was injured again, he played nine minutes against West Bromwich Albion on the Monday, so how did he get injured there?

“Sanchez is different. He loves playing football, just give him a ball and he’ll play and that’s all he wants to do. But Ozil, I think he’s downed tools, he wants to go and it’s going to get messy.”

Keown pulled no punches there. It seems Ozil’s strongly worded statement at former players who questioned his commitment hasn’t fazed the man previously known as ‘The Rash’.

It will be interesting to see if Ozil goes straight back into the team after the international break, with Wenger so far reluctant to field him and Alexis in the same team since the Liverpool loss.

Check out Keown’s tirade towards Ozil in the video above.