Former Arsenal striker Alan Smith has suggested the club should sell top earner Mesut Ozil to pay for new signings.

The German playmaker has fallen out of favour this season under Unai Emery, who is said to be unhappy with the 30-year-old’s attitude.

Ozil hasn’t played for the Gunners since Boxing Day and was left out of the matchday squad for the 1-0 defeat to West Ham last weekend.

Arsenal are short of funds this month and reports have claimed Emery is considering offloading unfavoured Ozil – who is paid £350,000-a-week – to fund the signings he needs to strengthen his squad.

The midfielder has been linked with a move to AC Milan on loan, although it is claimed Arsenal would still have to pay a large portion of his wages.

And two-time Division One winner Smith believes it’s a very real possibility Ozil could leave the club soon.

Speaking on Friday’s Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast, the ex-striker said: “Ozil is on huge money and given Arsenal are at the limit for their wages, if you could get Mesut Ozil out the door it would free up a few quid to get somebody else in.

“They are in that situation at the moment.

“But it’s not going to easy to get somebody on that kind of money out to another club, that’s the problem Unai Emery faces.

“Does he now put an arm around Ozil and try to get the best of him?

“Because when we’re winning without Ozil it’s strong manager and he’s not curtailing to the highest owner, but when they’re not doing so well, like against West Ham, it’s why on earth isn’t he using him.

“It’s always going be that situation when you’ve got a player like Mesut Ozil in the ranks.”

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