No wonder he got £350k a week! Mesut Ozil was one of the only Arsenal players ever to give Arsene Wenger a Christmas present

The Gunners misfit was a favourite of the former French manager and it is no surprise after handing him one of his Germany shirts following their World Cup 2014 triumph.

Ozil often came under heavy criticism during Wenger's time at Arsenal as the boss struggled to get the best out of his playmaker.

Further uproar was caused when he signed a contract extension worth a staggering £350,000-a-week to stay at the club following the departure of Alexis Sanchez.

And now with his whopping deal on paper until 2021, current boss Unai Emery has been left to with the task of getting him off the wage bill.

His attempts of freezing him out of the starting XI and offloading him in January failed with no clubs willing to match his wage demands.

And with Emery set to receive a stingy summer budget, he continues to do his best to find a buyer to free up some cash.

It is clear that Ozil is not part of his first-team plans going forward.

His four league goals this season have come against Bournemouth, Leicester, Watford and Newcastle.

And for someone who prides themselves on assists, his two in the league would be a major concern.

Speaking exclusively to The Sun, Arsenal legend Lee Dixon believes Ozil's contract means he is playing in the comfort zone.

He said: "Signing him up on a big deal was seen as a must not to lose him.

“But the character of the player has to be taken into consideration.

“When you give somebody that amount of money it probably wouldn’t affect some players. But it looks as if it has softened him.

“He doesn’t look driven, he doesn’t look hungry, and when that happens you have a problem.

“You need Ozil firing as well as the ability of the team to carry him at times when he is not quite functioning.

“There is no doubt that the team needs a player like Ozil playing at his best.

“Even an Ozil not quite at his best because the creativity that seems to be lacking from that midfield area, from the no.10 area, stands out a mile.”

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