Germany midfielder Mesut Özil signs new Arsenal deal
January 31, 2018
Amid all the comings and goings at Arsenal, one man is staying put until 2021 and that might end up being the best bit of news for fans of the London club.
Media reports say Germany's Mesut Özil signed a new deal that runs until 2021 on transfer deadline day, seemingly ruling out a departure at the end of the season, when his previous deal was due to run out. Reports say his new Arsenal contract is worth a whopping €398,000 ($495,000) a week, making him the club's highest paid player ever.
Özil at his majestic best is hard to beat, perfect passes, great control and ocassionally wonderful finishes. But even his biggest fans at Arsenal will concede he has not done it often enough, too often drifting out of games.
But with better players around him such as new Arsenal signings Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, he is more likely to turn on the style as Arsenal attempt to win a first Premier League title since 2004 next term.
His decision to stay at Arsenal is also a boost for Germany coach Joachim Löw ahead of the World Cup in June and July.
If speculation had continued to swirl about his future, it may have been seen as a distraction for the tournament in Russia. If he had moved clubs in January, he might have needed time to settle and not be at his best come June.
It is a win-win for Arsenal and Germany.
mm/mp (Reuters/AP)