Mesut Ozil Doubts Reports Arsene Wenger Wants to Sell Him from Arsenal

Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil has dismissed reports that he could be sold by the club this summer.

With his contract up at the end of the 2017-18 season, Ozil has been linked with a move away from the Gunners, with John Cross of the Daily Mirror reporting the Germany international and team-mate Alexis Sanchez could be sold in the upcoming window. 

Speaking to Die Welt (h/t Lyall Thomas of Sky Sports) about a possible departure, Ozil doubted whether manager Arsene Wenger would sell him. "Do you think Arsene Wenger tells the journalists [about my future] before he tells me?" he said. "I know him differently."

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Uncertainty has engulfed the Emirates Stadium as of late. Not only are the futures of Ozil and Sanchez insecure, Wenger's own deal with the club expires at the end of the season. Subsequently, the Frenchman may not be the one to decide whether the former Real Madrid man is sold.

In the same interview, the 28-year-old also revealed no decision has been made over his long-term future, although he is adamant success can still be savoured with Arsenal.

"I have a contract until 2018 in London and I feel very comfortable there," Ozil added. "We'll talk soon and then make a decision. My dream is to win the Champions League. Why not with Arsenal? Of course, we just have a difficult time and are not satisfied with sixth place. I am convinced, however, that we will catch up again soon. Let's see what the future holds."

If Ozil was to depart Arsenal, it would be a big blow for the team as there aren't many players as naturally gifted as him in world football. As noted by WhoScored.com, over the last two Premier League seasons, he's consistently been one of the most creative players:

Arsenal supporters will hope the team can call upon those gifts for a while yet. Ozil has a heavenly touch, can thread a pass through masses of defenders and leave opponents dazzled with his balletic balance.

Indeed, there's a lot of focus on what Ozil can't do, with critics often pointing to his lack of physicality, inconsistent work rate and his poor record of influencing big games. But if he's at the crux of a combative team, then the German can bring a crucial incision to a side's attacking forays.

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Ozil certainly isn't the main issue in Arsenal's perennial underachievement. Defensively, the Gunners are still brittle, while the team's struggles on the road in the biggest games is a collective issue. If better players were put around the playmaker, it’d be no surprise to suddenly see him flourish too.

Ozil seems content with life at Arsenal, and it wouldn't be a huge surprise to see him sign a new deal. The Gunners have struggled for fluency in the final third without their creator-in-chief, and after he returned from injury for Germany on Sunday against Azerbaijan, expect Ozil to be back in the XI when Manchester City visit the Emirates Stadium this weekend.