Mesut Özil to miss the rest of the season with ‘back injury’ but questions arise over Arsenal midfielder’s playing time

Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown correctly predicted that Özil would miss the Premier League clash with Burnley, having played just six league games since extending his contract

Mesut Özil missed Suunday's 5-0 victory over Burnley with what Arsene Wenger said was a 'back injury' (Getty)

Mesut Özil is set to miss the rest of the season after suffering a recurrence of his back injury, but questions have arisen over his lack of playing time in the Premier League this season since signing his new contract extension.

Last week Europa League semi-final defeat by Atletico Madrid led to intense criticism of Özil from former Arsenal defender Martin Keown, who also predicted that the Germany international would miss the weekend’s tie with Burnley. When the team sheets were released on Sunday afternoon, Özil’s absence was almost met with a comical reception, given he has not been seen in the league since the start of April.

Outgoing manager Arsene Wenger’s reluctance to use Özil appeared to be a deliberate attempt to protect him for the Europa League campaign, but given that there will be no golden send-off for Wenger as they missed out on this month’s final, there is no longer a reason to leave the 29-year-old out of the side.

Yet he missed the 5-0 thrashing of Burnley on Sunday with what Wenger said was a back injury, and after sitting out recent games with a similar knocks as well as multiple illnesses, his continued absence is raising suspicions that all is not what it seems at the Emirates.

"[It is] a recurrence of his back problem," Wenger said on Sunday following his lengthy farewell ceremony. "How long is he out? I don't know.

"I don't think he'll be available for the rest of the season."

Özil was at the Emirates for Wenger’s farewell and took part in the traditional lap of the pitch to thank the fans, even though it has been Arsenal’s worst in the league since Wenger arrived in 1996.

Özil came in for intense criticism from Martin Keown last week (Getty)

But his omission from the squad did not go unnoticed, not least due to Keown’s claim that he was “not fit to wear the shirt” following the 1-0 defeat in Madrid on Thursday. The Independent understands that there is a growing belief around the club that the questions being asked of Özil are not all that unfair, yet it will be no surprise to see Özil fully fit at this summer’s World Cup when Germany attempt to defend their crown.

"These are crocodile tears I'm seeing. He's not conning me," Keown said of Özil on BT Sport."I bet he doesn't play again this season. He will have some emotional breakdown and won't be able to play at the weekend.

"He wasn't fit to wear the shirt for me tonight, and I have seen this a lot this season. I haven't been happy with him for some time. It seems as though he picks and chooses his games. He was on the edge of things.

"That is not a proper performance. He isn't giving everything and there is a lot more under the bonnet. We expect better from him. He is a World Cup winner."

The criticism has sparked similar frustrations among Arsenal fans, who have protested against both Wenger and the team this season, and since signing his new contract with Arsenal at the end of January worth around £350,000-a-week – making him by far the club’s top earner – he has made just six Premier League appearances from a possible 11 games.

That Arsenal were easily able to beat Burnley without Özil could point to a future without the former Real Madrid midfielder in the side, should Wenger’s eventual replacement decide to rebuild the squad into his own side. Özil has contributed five goals this season, four of which came in the league, and is ranked only 10th in the assist chart with eight – one behind his tally last season and well short of the 19 he managed in 2015/16.

Özil has made just six starts in the Premier League since January (Getty) (AFP/Getty Images)

But Wenger sent used his farewell on Sunday to send a message to his successor, whoever that may be, to stress that the squad he is leaving behind does not need a radical overhaul and is still capable of challenging for silverware next season.

"I just think he inherits a team that is much better than people think it is,” said Wenger, who has long defended Özil against any criticism. “I'm convinced, you can see the togetherness of this team is special and with the right additions this team will challenge next year."