Mesut Ozil sends message to Arsene Wenger as Arsenal freeze out continues

Mesut Ozil has paid tribute to Arsene Wenger after the former Arsenal manager received a ‘legends of football’ award this week.

Wenger arrived in England from Japan in 1996 as an unknown Frenchman but developed into one of the most respected and successful managers in the game during his 22 year career in north London.

The 69-year-old won 3 Premier League titles and 7 FA Cups during his time as Arsenal manager and lead the club on an ‘invincible’ season in 2004 when they won the league without losing a single game.

Wenger transformed Arsenal on and off the pitch and he played a huge role in leading other clubs to change their policies on diet, health, fitness and training regimes with numerous former Arsenal players stating that Arsene helped them prolong their careers.

The former Monaco manager is yet to officially take up a new role since leaving Arsenal in 2018 but he’s been strongly tipped to join FIFA and/or the FA to help shape how the game is governed in England and around the world.

An array of stars from the football world gathered for an event in London this week in honour of Wenger as he was inducted into the ‘Legends of Football’ Hall of Fame.

Arsenal legends such as Robert Pires, Lee Dixon, Gilbero Silva, David Seaman and Robin van Persie all attended the event on Monday night to support Wenger as he collected his award.

Other legendary Arsenal players like Thierry Henry and Cesc Fabregas also made video tributes to their former boss while former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson also paid tribute to his old foe.

Mesut Ozil has become the latest player to send Wenger a message to congratulate him on his award with the Arsenal playmaker thanking the Frenchman for everything he has done for him and for ‘the whole Arsenal family’.

Ozil – who has been frozen out of the Arsenal team by current boss Unai Emery this season and was signed by Wenger in 2013 – went on to say he has huge respect for his former manager.

Congrats on this award, Mon. Wenger. Well deserved 👏🏼 Thanks again for everything you've done for me and the whole @Arsenal family. You have huge respect for the beautiful game and we'll always have huge respect for you. #M1Ö #YaGunnersYa @LoFootball https://t.co/cgbFAkN9To

— Mesut Özil (@MesutOzil1088) October 9, 2019

With Ozil out-of-favour under Emery, I guess he wishes Wenger was still in charge at the Emirates….