Mesut Ozil sends message to Arsenal fans amid Manchester United rumours

Mesut Ozil insists he will not be distracted by rumours continuing to link him with a move to Manchester United. The Germany international is yet to sign a new Arsenal contract with his current deal set to expire in the summer. Reports earlier this week claimed the 29-year-old had already told his teammates he was intent on being reunited with Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford.

Subsequent reports on Friday claimed Ozil was livid at the speculation surrounding his future, with a close friend having told The Sun it was his preference to remain in north London, despite negotiations over a new contract having stalled since March. Arsenal travel to Everton on Sunday looking to bounce back from last weekend’s defeat to Watford, after which Ozil was singled out for criticism by Gunners legend Martin Keown. The former Real Madrid star took part in training on Saturday before updating his followers on Twitter with a simple message: ‘Ignore the noise and stay focused’.

Arsene Wenger, meanwhile, insists he is confident both Ozil and Alexis Sanchez, who is in a similar contractual predicament, will give their all while they are still under contract. ‘We have to deal with all kinds of speculation when the players are at the end of their contracts,’ he told Arsenal.com. ‘On the other hand, to be professional is to give 100 per cent as long as you are somewhere. For the rest, we came out many times and said that´s the situation. ‘The media can come out tomorrow and say that he extends his contract here. It will be exactly the same, it will not change anything. When you play the next game, commit 100%.’