Arsenal star Mesut Ozil compared to Man Utd's Paul Pogba amid Gunners pay cut snub row (Image: GETTY)
Mesut Ozil has been compared to Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba for the level of criticism aimed his way after refusing to take a pay cut. After nearly two weeks of negotiations, Arsenal agreed a 12.5 per cent salary reduction with 24 members of their 27-strong first-team squad on Monday.
Those players will have 12.5 per cent taken off of their wages between April 2020 and March 2021 - amounting to a £25million saving for the club in total if all 27 stars get on board.
Ozil is the only one to have been named publicly after rejecting the proposal and has received a fierce backlash.
The German does not want to be rushed into a decision and is keen for more time to see the full impact of the coronavirus crisis.
Ozil gives away more than £2m a year through donations and charitable causes but the 31-year-old's humanitarian efforts have not stopped him from taking flak.
Arsenal star Mesut Ozil compared to Man Utd's Paul Pogba amid Gunners pay cut snub row (Image: GETTY)
And former Tottenham striker Darren Bent thinks the World Cup winner has received an unfair amount of condemnation.
He compared the levels of criticism Ozil has been on the end of to the kind of spotlight United's Pogba is regularly put under.
“People gloss over the good he does," Bent said, speaking on talkSPORT's Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast show on Wednesday morning.
“That 12.5 per cent comes out of his wages anyway to various charities, but people don’t want to talk about that because he’s a hate figure.
“Ozil is a bit like Paul Pogba; he’s public enemy number one. Can you image if Pogba did this? I would blow up!
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“Also, there are supposed to be three of them that have said no, and yet Ozil is the only one being named.
"We know that’s because of his wages, because he’s on £350,000-a-week; but I don’t care how much you’re on, when you’ve done some of the good stuff he has done, he deserves a bit of time.
“To come out and call him a disgrace, I think that’s poor.
“The important thing is Ozil is not saying he will not do it, he’s just asking for a little more time, and with some of the good things he’s done I think he’s earned that.”
Bent added: “There’s obviously a snake in that dressing room, which is not good.
“When you’re in a sporting environment with the guys in the dressing room, you’re like a small family, but at times people do cross the line.
“I’d be in there making phone calls trying to find out who it was that leaked the story, because if there’s three of us [who rejected a pay cut], I shouldn’t be the only one being named.
Arsenal star Mesut Ozil compared to Man Utd's Paul Pogba amid Gunners pay cut snub row (Image: GETTY)
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“It also think it’s quite disgusting the abuse he’s getting.
“He hasn’t come out and said, ‘I’m not doing it’, he’s given context as to why he isn’t doing it. He just wants a bit of time and wants to know where the money is going."
ESPN report that Ozil may yet to be willing to take a higher pay cut than 12.5 per cent but wants more consultation with lawyers and contract experts.
The deal Arsenal's squad have agreed to includes a clause which states they will be repaid the lost wages in full and handed an £100,000 bonus each if they qualify for the Champions League this season or next season.
They will receive 7.5 per cent back if they qualify for the Europa League, with hefty bonuses included if they win either competition next season.