Emmanuel Frimpong has named four players in the ‘Arsenal Emirates era’ who were better than at the north club.
Ozil, who registered 44 goals and 79 assists across 254 games for the Gunners between 2013 and 2021 and won four FA Cups, has just confirmed his retirement.
The champion, who left the Emirates for Fenerbahce and was most recently playing for Istanbul Basaksehir, .
His departure from Arsenal two years ago was controversial following a break down in his relationship with boss Mikel Arteta, who dropped him from the squad.
Former Arsenal midfielder Frimpong, quizzed about Ozil’s legacy at the club, told : ‘Ozil was not the best player of the Arsenal Emirates era.
‘The top three is Robin van Persie, Santi Cazorla and Alexis Sanchez. Cesc Fabregas would be fourth too, so Ozil might make the top five.’
Frimpong, who says Ozil would have had a ‘longer career’ had he stayed at Real Madrid instead of joining Arsenal, also rubbished claims the midfielder was ‘lazy’.
‘The way Mesut Ozil plays makes him look lazy,’ Frimpong added. ‘I was there when he made his debut against Sunderland, he assisted Olivier Giroud to win the match and was the best player in that game.
‘Ozil’s style of play was relaxed and not rushed, I think people took that as him being lazy.
‘Ozil did not do the extra running because he relied on others to do it for him, but he would create chances whenever he received the ball and he did that throughout his career.
‘Ozil could have had a longer career if he stayed in the Spanish league because the Premier League is so high-paced.
‘Let’s not forget what he did for Arsenal, he was outstanding. It did not end well when Mikel Arteta came in and demanded more work from Ozil, he was not used to that and the change didn’t work for him.
‘Unfortunately he had to leave the club [but] Ozil is one of the best players of the last 10-15 years, no doubt.’
