Mesut Ozil has criticised pundits including former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry for passing judgment on his contract stand-off with the Gunners.
Henry had claimed Ozil was holding the club “hostage” after Standard Sport revealed last month that the German and Alexis Sanchez were demanding parity with the Premier League’s highest earners to stay.
The pair are seeking a weekly wage in the region of Paul Pogba’s £290,000-a-week at Manchester United and have fewer than 18 months on their deals with clubs in China prepared to offer Sanchez in excess of £400,000 per week.
But Ozil said: “Everyone has the right to say their views. But these comments don’t interest me. Such former players or other people who weigh in with their opinion don’t know what’s actually being said between the club and me.”
Sanchez has attracted interest from Paris St Germain, Juventus and Manchester City among other clubs, while Ozil has been linked with a return to Germany or former club Real Madrid.
However, Ozil insists that there are more important factors than money, specifically the future of manager Arsene Wenger.
In Pictures | Preston vs Arsenal | 07/01/2017
“I feel very, very good with Arsenal and have shown my willingness to extend my contract with the club,” he told German magazine Kicker. “The fans want me to stay. Now it’s down to the club. The club know that I’m here above all, because of Arsène Wenger, who brought me here and whose trust in me I enjoy. The club also know that I want to have clarity about what the manager is doing.”
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