Mesut Ozil has offered to pay the full salary of the man behind Gunnersaurus, after the Arsenal mascot was let go by the club.
Jerry Quy has dressed up at the giant green dinosaur at home matches for the past 27 years but became the latest victim of the club’s cost-cutting measures amid the coronavirus pandemic.
With fans not currently attending matches, it was deemed that the mascot would be temporarily retired, but the decision has been criticised by former players and fans alike, particularly as news of Quy’s departure broke on the same day as Arsenal sealed the £45million transfer of Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey.
However, Ozil, who has not featured at all for Arsenal this season as he continues to be left out in the cold by Mikel Arteta, has offered to step in to keep Quy in a job.
The German wrote on Twitter: “I was so sad that Jerry Quy aka our famous & loyal mascot @Gunnersaurus and integral part of our club was being made redundant after 27 years.
“As such, I’m offering to reimburse @Arsenal with the full salary of our big green guy as long as I will be an Arsenal player so Jerry can continue his job that he loves so much.”
A club spokesperson told ESPN in response: "Gunnersaurus is not extinct and will return to action when fans are allowed back at matches."
