Gary Neville has downplayed suggestions Mesut Ozil would be making a major difference to an Arsenal team which currently among the worst in the Premier League for creating chances and scoring goals.
Ozil has not played for the club since March after failing to make an appearance when football resumed in June and at the start of the season, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta made the decision to not include Ozil in his 25-man Premier League squad.
Ozil is Arsenal's highest earner with£350,000-a-week and is braced to leave the club next summer as a free agent.
His exit will be a lamentable end to what could have been a memorable spell at the Emirates.
With Ozil's playmaking skills unavailable to Arsenal and Arteta in the north London derby against Tottenham on Sunday, Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp reckoned a mistake had been made with the German's omission.
"Ozil’s not even in the 25, but he’s that one player who can spot a pass," Redknapp said during the match.
"I get the pros and the cons with Ozil but I think Arsenal fans would rather be in the position with him playing than not."
But his co-pundit Neville was not of the same opinion, claiming Ozil has been 'disinterested'.
“I’m not as clear on that one - in terms of bringing Ozil back - I have to say," Neville replied.
"After watching him for three or four years here, he looked disinterested to me.
"He had talent, and he definitely had a pass in him, certainly in the final third, his weight of pass was fantastic.”
