Former Arsenal defender, Sol Campbell, has urged German international, Mesut Ozil, to commit himself to the club, regardless of whether manager Arsene Wenger leaves or stays.
Ozil, whose contract expires at the end of next season, has said his future depends on whether Wenger remains as the club’s boss or not.
The French coach contract will expire this year, while Chilean forward Alexis Sanchez will be out of contract next year.
While Campbell, who won two league titles with Arsenal, understands Ozil’s stance, he has advised the midfielder to forget about Wenger’s position.
He told Sky Sports, “Like any top player, he wants the manager who signed him.
“It’s nice to keep the continuity with the manager, with the ideas and philosophy and things like that.
“I can understand why he said that, but who’s got a crystal ball? Arsene isn’t going to sign a four-year contract so that’s academic really, you haven’t got a crystal ball.
“He might say I’m here for a year and he might be gone in two years’ time. Ozil might sign a four-year deal and someone might come in and buy him and he might be off.”
The 42-year-old former England defender believes both Ozil and Sanchez are close to signing new deal and urged them to think about the present.
“I think really it’s about here and now and where Arsenal want to go. I’m sure they’re quite close to signing the deal with both players and it’s all about compromising and looking at the whole picture of the deal.
“It’s all about securing the players for the future and if the manager stays, the manager stays and you go from there.
“You don’t want to have the club in a ransom headlock because of the manager.”
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