30-year-old holds the power at Arsenal according to former player

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Former Arsenal stalwart Ray Parlour believes that players hold ‘all the power’ within football clubs, according to an interview with Metro.

The former right-winger spent 12 years with Arsenal, scoring 32 goals in 339 appearances, and was speaking on the speculation surrounding the future of Mesut Ozil.

The German international has fallen way down boss Unai Emery’s pecking order and Parlour thinks the boss could have his hands full.

The 30-year-old has featured just 14 times for the Gunners this season and Parlour envisages a similar situation to what happened at PSG between Emery and Neymar.

The Brazilian revolted against Emery’s methods in the Franch capital and eventually, the manager was sacked.

Parlour sees similarities at the Emirates right now.

He told Metro: “The players hold all the power.

“It’s been a little bit like PSG with Neymar. He lost the dressing room and Neymar was pulling the strings there. Maybe it could be the same at Arsenal.”

Emery has been reluctant to use Ozil on a frequent basis in his team and offloading him as proved tricky.

With the ex-Real Madrid player earning a reported £350,000 per-week, potential suitors are not entirely forthcoming.

Parlour continued: “I go back to the dilemma of what Arsenal have got. He’s on £350,000-a-week.

“Who is going to pay that sort of money? ‘There’s got to be a time in your career, when you’re over 30 you know you’re on a slippery slope. You have to come to a decision.

Given the wages Ozil earns there is absolutely no certainty that he will be offloaded any time soon.

And, who could blame him?

He will feel that he has always given his all in an Arsenal shirt and that he hasn’t really been given a proper chance under Emery.

Parlour sees a potential problem on the horizon.

He said: “He could stick his heels in and sit out his contract, and say ‘play me when you want’.

“When you’re left out you want a reaction from the player, especially when it’s from training. You have to show the attitude you want to get back into the team somehow.”