Mesut Ozil is being frozen out of the Arsenal squad by manager Mikel Arteta.
There have been question marks about the German’s workrate throughout his time in England.
Although it’s not 100 per cent clear why Ozil isn’t in Arteta’s plans, those question marks over his defensive work can’t help.
Alexandre Lacazette is playing in the number 10 position Ozil favours, but former Gunner Martin Keown told the Daily Mail the Frenchman doesn’t work any harder than Ozil.
“Then there is Ozil,” said Keown. “If Arsenal stick with 4-2-1-3 the German could come back into the picture.
“He can be the number ten that Arsenal are missing to provide some creativity.
“At the moment Arteta is asking Alexandre Lacazette to play that role but that is not the future for the Frenchman. He does not work back and tackle any more than Ozil did.”
Lacazette’s presence out of position in Ozil’s role only ramps up the scrutiny on Arteta’s decision to leave the German out.
Take the situation at Tottenham as an example. Dele Alli is being frozen out, and nobody quite knows why.
But because Tanguy Ndombele and Giovani Lo Celso are shining in that number ten role, nobody is asking any questions.
Spurs have two quality alternatives to Alli, of the right age and working hard for the team.
Arsenal have Lacazette, who isn’t a number ten, and as Keown says, hardly busts a gut defensively himself while Ozil watches on.
If you take a bold stance like Arteta has on Ozil, the men you put their faith in to do the business instead must shine. At the moment, Lacazette isn’t.
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