Former Arsenal man Kevin Campbell identifies two players Mikel Arteta should sign to replace Mesut Ozil

Campbell believes Man United target Jack Grealish should be considered by Mikel Arteta
Getty Images

Former Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell says the time has come for the club to move on from Mesut Ozil – and believes either Jack Grealish or James Maddison would be an ideal replacement.

Ozil is entering the final year of his deal and despite being a first-team regular since Mikel Arteta’s arrival – having been out of favour under Unai Emery - has done little to suggest he is capable of recapturing his best form.

Grealish, by contrast, has taken the Premier League by storm despite Aston Villa’s struggles, while Maddison has been one of the star men in a Leicester City side that looked certain of Champions League qualification at the time of the coronavirus shutdown.

Both men have been heavily linked with Manchester United, but it is highly unlikely that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will sign the pair and Campbell says the Gunners should pounce.

Ozil has regained his starting place under Mikel Arteta but has little over a year left to run on his contract
IKIMAGES/AFP via Getty Images

“Arsenal need an all-rounder in midfield, Arsenal need someone in the middle of the pitch who not only can create, he can break the play up, but he’s got legs, we miss that. We’ve been a strong spine for years,” Campbell told Metro.

“There was talk of should we go for Jack Grealish or James Maddison, these type of guys would improve Arsenal.

“No disrespect to Mesut Ozil, but Ozil is on the wrong side of his Arsenal career with a year left on his contract after this.

“But we need someone who’s going to be in there with legs, we need creativity, and someone that when the games not going particularly well, he can get stuck in and knuckle down as well.”

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