Mesut Ozil has been suspended from all first-team action by Fenerbahce on Thursday after he is thought to have had a heated verbal exchange with the club's current interim manager Ismail Kartal.
The clash is alleged to have took place during Sunday's 2-1 home victory over Konyaspor in a game that saw Ozil withdrawn from the action at half-time. A statement from the Turkish side read: "Our 'Football A Team' players Mesut Ozil and Ozan Tufan have been excluded from the squad as per the decision taken, it is announced to the public."
As a result, the former Germany international has been dumped out of Fenerbahce's squad and will not be available for selection or allowed to train with the first team until further notice, sparking speculation he could be on the prowl for a new club as soon as this summer. If Ozil were to leave the Turkish titans, his exit would arguably mark a new low in what was once a glistening career.
Ozil's reputation has taken quite the battering in recent years, especially during the latter days of his Arsenal stay. When the World Cup winner signed for the Gunners, there were actual parties on the streets of Highbury, fans clamoured to purchase their 'Ozil 11' shirts and the midfielder represented the dawn of what many thought was a new era at the Emirates.
Arsene Wenger could barely hide his grin when he confessed to supporters he "may have a surprise for them" during his post-match media duties the day before Ozil's arrival. To say Arsenal forking out £42.5million on a Real Madrid star was a surprise is somewhat of an understatement.
Much of Ozil's time at Arsenal under both Wenger and his successor Unai Emery are well-documented, flashes of fleeting brilliance, a stellar individual 2015/16 campaign and many moments where he acted as little more than a passenger on the pitch. The protection Wenger offered when it came to defending Ozil's absences for away games north of the country was no longer available under the manager's that followed - even if one came in the form of an ex-teammate.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Did Arteta handle Ozil poorly as manager of the club? Comment below
Mikel Arteta actually shared an Arsenal dressing room with Ozil for three years, which led many to believe that when the Spaniard was appointed manager of the club in late 2019 - Ozil's best days would soon return. Free from the Emery-shaped albatross around his neck, the midfielder was expected to deliver some playmaking perfection under the stewardship of his old captain.
The reality was anything but, things started brightly enough with some nice team moves in the early days of Arteta's reign heavily involving Ozil, but it soon became clear the former Manchester City assistant had a way of wanting to play that rendered his old teammate surplus to requirements. The Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent suspension of the Premier League came at a time where Arteta's tune on Ozil began to change.
The Gunners were one of the first games of 'Project Restart', when they travelled to the Etihad to take on Pep Guardiola's City. Keen to get one over on his former mentor, Arteta decided that the best course of action was to omit Ozil from the squad entirely. Pressed on it after the game, the Spaniard explained: "I'm going to put him on the pitch when I think he can give his best."
Arsenal's number 10 would go on to be named in the match-day squad just twice more, once during the trip to Southampton where he was an unused substitute and the shot of Ozil with his feet up, umbrella protecting him from the shade embodied everything wrong with that version of the Gunners in the eyes of some.
He was never actually used after the Premier League's resumption despite plenty calling for him to be deployed during the first half of the following season. High on the morale boost of his first trophy as a manager [2020 FA Cup ], Arteta was sent crashing back down to earth with some of the worst form Arsenal had ever endured in the build-up to Christmas 2020.
Throughout this, there were both calls for his head and at the very least - if he was going to stick around, to use the playmaker once dubbed the 'king of the assist'. Arteta stood firm, having the courage of his conviction to let the club's highest ever-paid player rot in the reserves. When October 2021 rolled around, the time came for Arteta to confirm the 25 players he had selected for his Premier League squad for the remainder of the 2020/21 season.
Though it was not a surprise to most when Ozil's name wasn't on that list, it still felt hard-hitting - a player was once so revered by Gunners fans and opposition supporters alike had now failed to even make a squad of 25. The decision prompted Ozil to break his silence with a lengthy Instagram post.
Ozil wrote: "This is a difficult message to write to the Arsenal fans that I’ve played for over the past few years. I’m really deeply disappointed by the fact that I have not been registered for the Premier League season for the time being.
"Upon signing my new contract in 2018, I pledged my loyalty and allegiance to the club that I love, Arsenal, and it saddens me that this has not been reciprocated. As I have just found out, loyalty is hard to come by nowadays.
"I've always tried to remain positive from week to week that there's maybe a chance to get back in the squad soon again. That's why I kept silent so far. Before the Coronavirus break I was really happy with the development under our new coach Mikel Arteta - we've been on a positive way and I would say my performances were on a really good level.
"But then things changed, again, and I was not longer allowed to play football for Arsenal. What else can I say? London still feels like home, I still have many good friends in this team, and I still feel a strong connection with the fans of this club.
"No matter what, I will keep fighting for my chance and not let my 8th season at Arsenal end like this. I can promise you that this hard decision won't change anything in my mindset - I will continue to train as best as I can and wherever possible use my voice against inhumanity and for justice."
Reports soon circulated that Arteta's decision to exile Ozil actually come from those above him, infuriated by the fact the playmaker was the only one to refuse a pay-cut during the height of the pandemic. For obvious reasons, Arteta never disclosed as to whether that actually was the case, but the writing was on the wall for Ozil due to his on-pitch contribution.
Over two years into his Gunners reign, Arteta's Arsenal is a young, vibrant side full of energy and players willing to put in hard graft when it is most required during the most difficult of away games. Martin Odegaard has arguably filled Ozil's shoes with a playing style the Emirates faithful never witnessed from his German predecessor.
January 2021 marked the official end of Ozil's time in North London, his arrival in Fenerbahce the conclusion of a long, messy divorce from Arsenal that should have arguably happened sooner. This latest update from Turkey just suggests the 33-year-old has failed to learn any lessons.
