Arsenal hero Paul Merson says Arsene Wenger needs to take some responsibility for the demise of Mesut Ozil.

Merson says former Gunners manager Wenger has questions to answer for sanctioning Ozil's wages which have left Arsenal in an acrimonious “chess game" with the out-of-favour forward.

“Now it's becoming a bit of a chess game," Merson said. “He knows he isn't playing, and he'll say: 'You mess me about, I'll mess you about'. You don't want it to end like that.

“I don't think Ozil gets the appreciation he deserves. His wages have affected the Arsenal fans in certain ways, that's upset them. That wasn't his fault, that was Arsene Wenger's fault. What he was doing giving Ozil that kind of money, I don't know, only he can answer that.

“This should have been done with five or six months ago, they should have sat round the table with him and swallowed a pill.

“If he digs his feet in and doesn't play for another season, is that his career over? Maybe. Then he'll be sitting down aged 36 or 37 thinking: 'Why didn't I go and play football?'

“Ozil can go anywhere in the world, if his wages are reasonable. He's earned enough. If he wants to play football, every club in America would have him."