Arsenal giving Mesut Ozil eye-watering wages has proven to be one of the biggest mistakes the club has ever made.
That's according to Alan Shearer, who reckons the Gunners aren't getting their money's worth for one, and secondly, it's disrupted the dressing room.
Arsenal are in the process of trying to tie Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang down to a new deal, but it appears increasingly likely that he'll leave on a free in 2021 when his current contract expires.
Aubameyang is looking for a new challenge - a chance to win a trophy before his career comes to an end - and he doesn't believe this is manageable at Arsenal.
Ozil has nothing to do with Arsenal's negotiations with Aubameyang.
But Shearer reckons that Aubameyang knowing what Ozil is on will cause problems, as the Gabon will not be offered a similarly lucrative deal.
"I'm sure he [Mikel Arteta] knew it already, but he knows he has got a big, big, difficult job on his hands," said Shearer on Match of the Day.
"One to get results, and two to get players out of that football club who he needs to. When you look at the Aubameyang situation with his contract, I don't see him signing a contract there, I don't.
"Because he'll look at the salary Mesut Ozil is on and say, 'Okay, give me that'.
"And there's no way they can give him that. 'It was a huge mistake to give Mesut Ozil that salary. He can't even get into the team when they're going to Brighton.
"It's one thing at Manchester City, but when you're going to Brighton and you know you've got to be creative, he can't even get in the team. And it's not only this manager that hasn't picked him."
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