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Arteta: I failed with Ozil

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4 years ago

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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says he feels he has “failed” with midfielder Mesut Ozil after leaving him out of his 25-man Premier League squad.

The German, who had also been omitted from the Europa League squad, can now only play for Arsenal Under-23s until his deal expires in summer 2021.

The 32-year-old, who joined Arsenal for a then club record £42.4m in 2013, has not played for the club since 7 March.

“My conscience is very calm because I have been really fair,” said Arteta.

“What I can say from my side is that it is just a football decision. My level of communication with him has been really high and we know what to expect with each other.

“Obviously a player of that dimension, with the career he has had, everything that happens around him has a big impact. It has been the case for the last eight years; it is nothing new that is just happening now. A lot of things have happened over these eight years.

“My job is to get the best out of every player, to contribute to the team performance.

“Here I feel at the moment, today, that I have failed. I want the best possible for Mesut and for the team. And in some moments, I was able to get close to that, and at the moment, I have not been able to do it because I have to make the decision to leave him out of the squad.”

‘Loyalty is hard to come by nowadays’ – Ozil

Earlier, in a message to Arsenal fans, Ozil said, “Loyalty is hard to come by nowadays.”

“I’m really deeply disappointed by the fact that I have not been registered for the Premier League season for the time being,” Ozil wrote on social media.

He also said, “Upon signing my new contract in 2018, I pledged my loyalty and allegiance to the club that I love, Arsenal, and it saddens me that this has not been reciprocated.

“I’ve always tried to remain positive from week to week that there’s maybe a chance to get back in the squad soon again. That’s why I kept silent so far.”

Since joining from Real Madrid seven years ago, Ozil has scored 44 goals in 254 appearances in all competitions for the Gunners.

He fell out of favour under previous manager Unai Emery before returning to the side under interim boss Freddie Ljungberg.

After Arteta’s appointment in December 2019, Ozil started all 10 of Arsenal’s Premier League games immediately before the coronavirus pandemic forced a three-month suspension of the top-flight in March.

Earlier in October, he offered to pay the salary of Jerry Quy, the man who plays the role of club mascot Gunnersaurus, who was one of 55 redundancies at the club.

“Before the coronavirus break I was really happy with my development under our new coach Mikel Arteta – we’ve been on a positive way and I would say my performances were on a really good level,” Ozil added.

“But then things changed, again, and I was no longer allowed to play football for Arsenal. No matter what, I will keep fighting for my chance and not let my eighth season at Arsenal end like this.

“I can promise you that this hard decision won’t change anything in my mindset – I will continue to train as best as I can and wherever possible use my voice against inhumanity and for justice.”

Former Arsenal and England striker Ian Wright said he was “gutted” for Ozil.

“Football will never stop surprising me,” he said on Twitter.

“The fact that whatever has gone on couldn’t be resolved between the club and Mesut is sad. Sad for everyone involved and I can only send him strength for what will be a difficult few months knowing he won’t even have a chance to play.”

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Fernandes nets hat-trick in Man United big win over Real Sociedad

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4 hours ago

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March 14, 2025

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Fernandes nets hat-trick in Man United big win over Real Sociedad

Man United skipper Bruno Fernandes scored a hat-trick to lead his side to victory against 10-man Real Sociedad at Old Trafford and book a Europa League quarter-final encounter with French club Lyon.

Needing a victory to keep alive their hopes of marking Ruben Amorim’s first year in charge with silverware and knowing the tournament is their only realistic chance of securing European football next season, Man United got off to the worst possible start as Mikel Oyarzabal scored from the spot after being brought down by Matthijs de Ligt.

Thankfully for the hosts, the were level within six minutes as Fernandes kept his cool after Igor Zubeldia had taken Rasmus Hojlund down as the Dane was bearing down on the Sociedad goal.

Remarkably, it took a third penalty of the night to get United’s noses in front.

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Aritz Elustondo complained long after it was ruled he had fouled Patrick Dorgu. It made no difference, and for the third time, the goalkeeper went the wrong way as Fernandes found the net for from the spot for his 14th goal of the season.

The Spanish visitors’ last chance seemed to disappear midway through the second half when Jon Aramburu was sent off for hauling down Dorgu, who would have been through.

But just for good measure, Man United struck twice more before the end.

Fernandes completed his second hat-trick for the club with a low finish across goal and into the far corner before fellow Portugal international Diogo Dalot drilled home a fourth in stoppage time.

 

Fernandes nets hat-trick in Man United big win over Real Sociedad

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Real Madrid beat Atletico after bizarre penalty disallowed

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1 day ago

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March 13, 2025

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Real Madrid beat Atletico after bizarre penalty disallowed

Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez had a penalty dramatically ruled out in the shootout as Real Madrid edged out their city rivals to reach the quarter-finals.

They will face Arsenal in the last eight, having kept alive their hopes of winning a record-extending 16th Champions League trophy.

Neither side could find a winning goal before the end of extra time after Conor Gallagher’s strike – just 27 seconds into the game – had levelled the tie on aggregate after Real Madrid’s 2-1 first-leg win.

That meant penalties were needed to determine the outcome and, after the first three had been converted, former Manchester City forward Alvarez stepped up to take Atletico’s second.

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He slipped while taking it, but the ball ended up in the back of the net. While it was initially given, the successful spot-kick was subsequently ruled out by the video assistant referee (VAR), with Alvarez having been deemed to have touched the ball twice as he struck his effort.

Fede Valverde converted his penalty to put Real 3-1 ahead and although Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak saved Lucas Vazquez’s spot-kick to briefly give Atletico hope, Marcos Llorente hit the bar.

Antonio Rudiger then stepped up to squeeze home the decisive penalty to send Real Madrid through by a 4-2 margin.

 

Real Madrid beat Atletico after bizarre penalty disallowed

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Amaju Pinnick loses FIFA council seat, Patrice Motsepe leads CAF again

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2 days ago

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March 12, 2025

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Amaju Pinnick loses FIFA council seat, Patrice Motsepe leads CAF again

Former President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, has lost his re-election into the FIFA council.

But South African Patrice Motsepe was re-elected unopposed as the President of Confederation of African Football (CAF), to serve a second four-year term.

Pinnick could not secure the required votes to earn one of the six membership positions for Africa on the council.

The former NFF president scored 28 votes in the election held at the 14th CAF extraordinary general assembly on Wednesday in Cairo, Egypt.

Elected members are Faouzi Lekjaa of Morocco, Mauritania’s Ahmed Yahya, Kanizat Ibrahim of Comoros, Djibouti’s Souleiman Waberi, Hamidou Djibrilla of Niger and Egypt’s Hani Abo Rida.

Pinnick had just one vote less than Yahya and Waberi who clinched the final two slots.

Motsepe secured a second term during CAF’s extraordinary general assembly held in Cairo on Wednesday, with FIFA President Gianni Infantino in attendance.

He was elected by acclamation in Morocco four years ago, succeeding Malagasy Ahmad Ahmad, who had been suspended by FIFA over financial misconduct.

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