Arsenal struggling without Ozil’s creativity, says Ljungberg

Former Arsenal midfielder Freddie Ljungberg has questioned the membership’s resolution to freeze out Mesut Ozil from their Premier League squad and says there are few higher gamers at opening up defences than the German playmaker.

Ozil has not performed for Arsenal since March and was not named within the squad lists for the Premier League and the Europa League, successfully sidelining the 32-year-old till January when the membership can submit a brand new listing.

Without a recognised playmaker within the squad, Arsenal have seemed listless in assault, scoring solely 10 objectives in 11 league matches. Arteta’s facet are 15th and path leaders Tottenham Hotspur by 11 factors.

Ljungberg, who took over as interim coach at Arsenal when Unai Emery was sacked final season and assisted Arteta till departing in August, mentioned he didn’t know why Ozil was not within the image.

“When you have a player like that, and I don’t say he should play every single week … but when you have possession and you need to find that cute pass, I don’t think there are any better players than Mesut doing that,” Ljungberg advised Sky Sports.

“Of course you lose a bit defensively, but it’s a decision they’ve made. I don’t know why the decision’s been made and he’s outside the 25-man squad, so they can’t use him.

“But for those things, I don’t think there are many better in the world.”

Arteta has beforehand mentioned that Ozil’s state of affairs is a “football decision”. The German, who is among the highest-paid gamers on the membership, is out of contract on the finish of the season.