ARSENAL have put their rift with outcast midfielder Mesut Ozil aside to wish him a happy 32nd birthday. And fans begged for Mikel Arteta to give him the one present he really wants – to actually play a game!
The £350,000-a-week World Cup winner’s last appearance for the club was on March 7 and it is almost eight months to the day since he last scored.
Arteta has cleverly saved his club millions by freezing out Ozil – with no chance of the German earning his add-ons or incentives.
He did still get an £8million loyalty bonus in September after the club failed to sell him.
But now it appears supporters are eager to see Ozil – who offered to pay sacked Gunnersaurus’ wages – back in the line-up.
A post from Arsenal’s Twitter account read: “Happy birthday, Mesut!”
The comments underneath were full of supporters desperate to see him on the pitch.
One put: “We need Ozil back.”
Another said: “Ozil in. Arteta out.”
One comment read: “Oh, so you can wish him a happy birthday? This is hypocritical. Play him.”
A fellow user wrote: “I stand with Mesut Ozil, he deserves another chance.”
One fan tweeted: “Play him, wishing him happy birthday is not enough to demonstrate your love for him.
“Don’t murder his career, play him or free him.”
Another message read: “I’d love to see him play again. Please.”
While a fellow fan wrote: “Happy Birthday hero. The fans can’t stop loving you and all that you represent.
Ozil recently set Arteta a message by posting a video of his best moments and most outrageous skills.
But it remains unclear when he will next be welcomed back into the fold after being axed from Arsenal’s Europa League squad.