Is former Arsenal fringe player Jeremie Aliadiere right about Mesut Ozil? Darren N
Former Arsenal player Jeremie Aliadiere, who played in 29 games for us over a six year period is claiming that the high salary that Mesut Ozil earns is having an unsettling effect on the dressing room.
Aliadiere was speaking after the game on Stadium Astro, a Malaysian sports network, when the subject of Ozil and how much he earns came up for discussion following yet another under-par performance.
“You talk about the dressing room” Aliadiere said
“In the dressing room, players know who the highest-paid player in the room is.”
“Knowing that he’s not going to those big games, you think ‘why am I not getting this’.”
“They’re there every single game grafting.”
“On paper, he’s the biggest player they’ve got.”
Aliadiere was then asked by host Adam Carruthers if this would irritate Ozil’s team-mates.
“It could do,” Aliadiere replies.
“Losing Ramsey on a free is incredible.
“But you look at Ozil and think ‘I want the same’.
“They’re going to the big games and trying.
“Sometimes it can create a bit of tension in the dressing room.”
This is obviously an opinion from Aliadiere, however, it does make sense, if you were Aaron Ramsey and you know that you put in better more consistent performances than Ozil and yet you are offered a lower wage, how would that make you feel?
It has to be having some sort of effect on the dressing room, how can it not? the players must surely be asking themselves and each other how the hell can a player earn so much more money and contribute so little when it really matters.
I have a feeling this will not go away, not until Ozil starts to justify his high salary in the big games and starts to deliver for us.
Darren N