Arsene Wenger insists he will play Manchester United target Mesut Ozil as long as he looks 100 per cent committed to Arsenal
German playmaker reportedly wants £325,000 for his services and will available for free at the end of the season
ARSENE WENGER will continue picking Manchester United target Mesut Ozil as long as he looks 100 per cent committed to Arsenal.
The German midfielder is out of contract in the summer when he can walk out of the Emirates for free and join a rival.
Jose Mourinho is a big fan of his former Real Madrid playmaker and the Portuguese would love to get one over the Arsenal boss by poaching one of his stars.
But Wenger insists Ozil is fully committed to the club and will not be dropped until he shows a lack of desire.
Wenger told arsenal.com: "We have to deal with all kinds of speculation when the players are at the end of their contracts.
"On the other hand, to be professional is to give 100 per cent as long as you are somewhere, Arsenal or any other club.
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“And he is not seeking to become the highest-paid player in the Premier League. That’s not his aim.”
“For the rest, we came out many times and said that's the situation.
“The media can come out tomorrow and say that he extends his contract here.
"It will be exactly the same, it will not change anything.
"When you play the next game, commit 100 per cent."
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Arsenal stood firm in January when Manchester City wanted to grab Alexis Sanchez – who is also a free agent at the end of the season – but Ozil is not in the same league.
There were no big-money offers for Ozil who allegedly wants £325,000 from the Gunners or his next club.
Wenger said: "I believe that at the moment I just focus on what is the best possible team for the next game and have no pre-conceived ideas if the guy will be 100 per cent committed or not.
"That would be unfair on my side, because you don't have any opinion about that.
“When a player plays for Arsenal Football Club, his commitment cannot be linked with the length of his contract, it has just to be linked with the responsibility and the ambition he has to win the football game.”