Mesut Ozil hasn’t come to Arsenal’s aid on the field in quite a long time.
The former Germany international has barely kicked a ball for the Gunners in a competitive game since the season was suspended back in March.
But off the pitch, Ozil has done his popularity no harm at all by saving one of the club’s cherished figures – its mascot Gunnersaurus.
Arsenal announced earlier this week that the big green dinosaur had fallen victim of cost-cutting measures in North London.
The man inside the suit, Jerry Quy, has been their mascot for 27 years and the decision to let him go disappointed many Gunners fans around the world.
But Ozil, who earns £350,000 per week, revealed on Twitter on Tuesday that he was going to reimburse Arsenal for Quy’s salary.
Fans of the Emirates Stadium flocked to praise the 32-year-old’s kindness and generosity, as has Gary Lineker on Twitter:
The perception of Ozil hasn’t been great in recent years, with his on-the-field output dramatically declining since Arsene Wenger’s exit in May of 2018.
But the former Real Madrid magician – who has four assists in the Premier League since Wenger left – might well win back some supporters who had washed their hands with him, on the back of this gesture.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
