Martin Keown says it is sad to see Mesut Ozil leave Arsenal this way, but Mikel Arteta had to make a change if the German wasn’t applying himself in training.
Ozil is close to agreeing his exit from Arsenal, with an agreement in principle in place for him to leave the club this month.
The 32-year-old still has six months left on his £350,000-a-week contract, but is seemingly keen to move to Fenerbahce now.
Ozil has not played for Arsenal since March of last year and he was left out of the Gunners’ squads for the Europa League and Premier League this season.
It means the attacking midfielder will leave Arsenal having not played for the club for almost a whole year.
Keown, who won three Premier League titles at Arsenal, feels it is a sad end to the German’s time in north London, but Arteta had to make a change.
“I find it really sad that a player of that ability has not been able to finish his career in the right way at Arsenal football club,” he told the BBC.
“You cannot drop when you have got that technical ability and the vision he has as a player. What’s happening that you drop so much?
“It has to be about the way you are applying yourself. And if he wasn’t doing that properly on the training ground, the manager has to make a change.
“The football club now needs to look to the future and these youngsters bring so much promise.
“So we can afford to let the Ozils go if they are not going to really give it everything for the football club.”
