In January 2018, Mesut Ozil signed a new contract to become the top earner at Arsenal. A year on and he is no longer first-choice for the gunners.

Under Arsene Wenger, he was a key figure in the starting line up whenever fit. The head coach at the Emirates, Unai Emery, has come to prefer other options ahead of the German.

He has become a more peripheral figure of late, much to the chagrin of fans who want to see the World Cup winner at his best leading Arsenal forward with his skill and creativity with the ball.

With no solution in sight for Ozil and his uncertain status in the squad, money is still being paid into his bank account at a rate that places him in the top 10 best paid footballers in the European game, according to L'Equipe .

He is joined in this prestigeous list by none other than Alexis Sanchez, his former colleage at Arsenal, who left the club last January in swap deal that saw Henrikh Mkhitaryan arrive from Manchester United.

Arsene Wenger with new signing Mesut Ozil at London Colney on September 12, 2013 (Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Ultimately, the Gunners had two star players who both wanted bigger deals. In the end, they gave Ozil a raise and sent the Chilean to Old Trafford.

The list of top earners in Europe otherwise incldues the great and the good of the modern game.

Here is how much Arsenal are reportedly paying their No. 10 and how his wages compare to the other top earners in European football.

10. Mesut Ozil

Club: Arsenal

Reported wage: £1.4million per month

9. Kylian Mbappe

Club: Paris Saint-Germain

Reported wage: £1.51million per month

8. Alexis Sanchez

Club: Manchester United

Reported wage: £1.99million per month

7. Philippe Coutinho

Club: Barcelona

Reported wage: £2.01million per month

6. Gareth Bale

Club: Real Madrid

Reported wage: £2.19million per month

5. Luis Suarez

Club: Barcelona

Reported wage: £2.52million per month

4. Neymar

Club: Paris Saint-Germain

Reported wage: £2.68million per month

3. Antoine Griezmann

Club: Atletico Madrid

Reported wage: £2.89million per month

2. Cristiano Ronaldo

Club: Juventus

Reported wage: £4.11million per month

1. Lionel Messi

Club: Barcelona

Reported wage: £7.26million per month


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