Martin Keown blistering response to Mesut Ozil
Earlier this week Mesut Ozil gave a wide-ranging interview to the Athletic and covered a multitude of topics. One of those topics was criticism from former players turned pundits. To say Ozil is not impressed with them would be a huge understatement.
One of the pundits that basically questioned the integrity of Ozil was Martin Keown. When talking about how many games that the German has missed Keown said:
‘To miss that amount of games is quite remarkable, isn’t it? 100 matches in that period. I would say that is definitely questionable. We don’t know, only the player knows.
‘Is he injured, is he ill? One of the things as a player you have got to be available for selection & you want to give consistency.’
Those comments brought out a fierce defence from the 30-year-old playmaker.
‘It always happens that an ex-player stands there on TV and criticises me,” Ozil said. “Others just continue the theme and it gets in everyone’s heads.
So, that would be that, right? Nope, seems Keown wants to have the last say on the matter telling TalkSport.
Keown hits back
‘It’s embarrassing for the football club that he is not featuring for Arsenal. He has to take a look at himself. It can’t be everybody elses fault.
‘don’t care what he’s earning to play for the club it’s an honour to play and while you are there you make your mark.
‘At the moment is he setting a good example in training? As a senior player I would make sure that the youngsters would follow on.
‘I would graft, I would work, give everything I could. I would be collective and help the group around me.
‘I wouldn’t be talking about me. He’s looking about and saying I’m not playing now so don’t blame me.
‘Well, no! It’s about the collective it’s not about you. How do we get you in the team now to get you back in the group. That’s the next step for Ozil now. The opportunity is there.
‘I don’t see him saying anywhere he is desperate to play. For me, the oxygen every weekend was to be in that team and I would bust a gut and I want to see that from Ozil.’
Seems Keown likes to give it out but is a little sensitive when it is returned with interest.
Keown had his say, he criticised Ozil, fair enough that is his job, however, Ozil is entitled to defend himself and that should be it but not for Keown it appears.
Is Keown really going to respond every single time someone defends themselves against his comments?
I do not think it is embarrassing that Ozil is not playing but I do think this public spat is.