Former Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil claims his past social media comments ultimately led to his exit from the Emirates
Mesut Ozil has opened up about his Arsenal exit, claiming he was frozen out of the first‑team squad for voicing concerns about the treatment of Uighur Muslims in China. The former midfielder addressed the issue of human rights abuses in north‑west Xinjiang in a social media post at the end of 2019.
At the time, Arsenal distanced themselves from his comments and released a statement on Chinese platform Weibo stressing that they did not involve themselves in politics.
It read: “Regarding the comments made by Mesut Ozil on social media, Arsenal must make a clear statement. The content published is Ozil’s personal opinion. As a football club, Arsenal has always adhered to the principle of not involving itself in politics.”
Ozil has now claimed the club ‘closed the doors’ on him as he stayed away from first‑team action, training on his own until his contract at the Emirates was mutually terminated before he completed a move to Turkish side Fenerbahce in January 2021.
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Speaking at the Leadership in the Age of Confusion Summit earlier this week, Ozil recalled the situation at the Emirates, saying: “I heard about Uighur Turks and then I made my research. Then, of course, as a star, I had a voice. And I knew also if I post something about this kind of thing, I will get in trouble. But I didn’t care. I posted and I am happy.
“So, of course, they closed [on] me the doors. They didn’t let me play anymore. I understand also my team-mates. So, when they get in touch with me, they will also be in trouble. They have to take care of their own family also so this was my decision to react to what I did. Of course, I had difficult times because you know I was enjoying playing football. They just took it away from me.”
Ozil continued: “I am always telling the young people – in young age, to marry and have a child gives you more power than anything else. So I was happy that I had my wife next to me and also my child, because it was really tough times for me, because I was out of the squad, I was training by myself for eight months.
“But, you know, God takes it away from you, so I am always thankful. Don’t give up. The most strong people next to you are your family. If they support you, some other doors will open to you.”
At the time, former Gunners CEO Vinai Venkatesham – now of relegation-threatened Tottenham – denied that the club distanced themselves from Ozil over his views. “I don’t think it’s fair to say we took a commercial view,” Venkatesham said.
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“I know it is how it has been reported but I don’t think it is fair to say it. We were asked for comment around the situation, predominantly we were asked for a comment in China but it was generally.
“Our position was it was a statement the player made in an individual capacity. There wasn’t a commercial driver behind that, it was simply being clear it wasn’t Mesut making a club statement, it was him making one in an individual capacity, as is his right.”
The German spent eight years at the Emirates after completing a ÂŁ42.5million move from Real Madrid in 2013. He announced his retirement in 2023, bringing a difficult end to a glittering career after injuries hampered his final years in the game.
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