Former Tottenham striker Darren Bent has condemned the "disgusting" abuse aimed at Mesut Ozil after the German stalled over a pay-cut agreement.
Ozil is believed to be among three Arsenal players yet to agree to a wage-cut accepted by the majority of the squad to help ease the financial burden brought about by the coronavirus shutdown.
The 31-year-old, who is the club's top-earner on £350,000-a-week, is thought to want more time to assess the full impact of the coronavirus shutdown before committing to a deal.
“There’s obviously a snake in that dressing room, which is not good,” Bent told talkSPORT Breakfast.
“When you’re in a sporting environment with the guys in the dressing room, you’re like a small family, but at times people do cross the line.
“I’d be in there making phone calls trying to find out who it was that leaked the story, because if there’s three of us [who rejected a pay cut], I shouldn’t be the only one being named.
News broke of his decision on Monday, prompting an angry backlash from some commentators.
Arsenal fan Piers Morgan led the criticism, branding Ozil a "disgrace" on Twitter before continuing his rant against the player on Tuesday's ITV breakfast show Good Morning Britain.
But Bent felt the uproar was overplayed, adding: “It also think it’s quite disgusting the abuse he’s getting.
“He hasn’t come out and said, ‘I’m not doing it’, he’s given context as to why he isn’t doing it. He just wants a bit of time and wants to know where the money is going.”
