Mesut Ozil, who has fallen from Arsenal's accounts, has been out of the Premier League's 25-player list for the 2020-2021 season, which was announced today Tuesday, fueling speculation that his role has ended with the London club.
Ozil, 32, who has a contract with Arsenal, did not play until June 2021 and was reported to be making £ 350,000 a week, with coach Mikel Arteta's squad this season.
🥳 Happy birthday, midfield maestro Mesut Özil!
@ MesutOzil1088 |
#HBD |
#UCL pic.twitter.com/YBwlV2n0aU
- UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) October 15, 2020
The German playmaker, who last played for Arsenal in March, was also excluded from the squad in the Europa League earlier this month.
Jumma Mubarak 🤲🏼🕋 # M1Ö pic.twitter.com/CFt5A7as3P
- Mesut Özil (@ MesutOzil1088) October 16, 2020
Arteta said last month that his squad had begun to take shape and that Ozil would find it difficult to secure a place in it, raising doubts about the former Real Madrid star's future.
A legendary playmaker is celebrating… 💫
Happy 32nd birthday, @ MesutOzil1088!
🎂🎁 pic.twitter.com/D7LOHgk4w1
- LaLiga English (@LaLigaEN) October 15, 2020
On the other hand, veteran goalkeeper Peter Cech who played for Chelsea from 2004 to 2015 and is currently a technical advisor at Stamford Bridge was selected as an emergency reserve guard.
Cech retired in May 2019 after playing for Arsenal in the Europa League final defeat to Chelsea.
The Telegraph: It has been confirmed,
Chelsea has already added Peter # Cech in the Premier League list and the goalkeeper is ready to play again pic.twitter.com/YyiZxUJl7Z
- ChelseaClubNet (@chelseaclubnet) October 20, 2020
"It is a precautionary step due to the current unprecedented circumstances due to the Covid-19 epidemic. A place will be allocated for him on the list as a non-contract player," Chelsea said in a statement.
Manchester United defender Phil Jones and goalkeeper Sergio Romero have been excluded from the squad, while Danny Rose is out of Tottenham’s accounts after failing to move to a second-tier team on the last day of the transfer.
Premier League leaders Everton had ruled out winger Yannick Pulasi, after the 31-year-old failed to make his debut with the club this season, as his last match was in May 2018.
The Premier League teams can register 25 players in the first team list over the age of 21, provided that at least 8 of them are local players.
A domestic player in the Premier League is defined as any player of any nationality who completes 21 years or more by January 1, 2021 and has spent 3 seasons between the ages of 16 and 21 with a team in the English Premier League.