Mesut Ozil's time at Arsenal is nearly at its conclusion.
The German midfielder, signed in 2013, was once one of Arsenal's most important players.
But, after a series of poor performances, he has fallen completely out of favour with Mikel Arteta.
The 32-year-old hasn't even been included in Arsenal's Premier League or Champions League squads, meaning he has most likely played his last game for the club.
The Gunners made that decision despite Ozil being the club's highest-paid player at £350,000-per-week.
The whole situation divides Arsenal fans.
Some have had enough of him, claiming he is past his best. While others have leapt to his defence, claiming he still has a lot to offer.
And Arsenal hero Lukas Podolski is very much supportive of his former teammate.
The German striker rarely blasts his former club but he has slammed the club for their treatment of his compatriot.
“I want to know the background, but I generally think with a player who is now in his sixth or seventh year with the club, to kick him completely out of the squad that’s not okay,” Podolski told BILD, per the Mirror.
“You don’t do something like that, and I don’t know if something happened in the background or not but even if he’s done something, you don’t do it.
“I don’t know, of course, if there is something going on in the background or not but even if there is something like that you don’t do it, mainly so you can keep his class on the pitch.”
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As Podolski says, it'll be interesting to knows the ins and outs in why exactly Ozil has been cast aside. Something may have happened that isn't public knowledge.
But, if we're speaking purely on footballing ability, I think Ozil should be included in Arsenal's squads more often.
Fair enough, there's going to be games where he doesn't suit Arteta's high intensity style of play.
But he possesses technical ability that no other player in Arsenal's squad has.
The Gunners are crying out for a creative playmaker and that's exactly what Ozil brings.
It's a shame that Arteta doesn't think highly of Ozil as his talent is just going to waste.