Mikel Arteta says it is Mesut Ozil’s decision whether he leaves Arsenal in January or sees out his contract

Mikel Arteta has said it will be up to Mesut Ozil to decide whether he leaves Arsenal in January or sees out the final six months of his contract at the club.

Arsenal will listen to offers for £350,000-a-week midfielder when the transfer window opens as Arteta begins the process of trimming his bloated squad.

Ozil has been linked with a move to Turkish giants Fenerbahce but the former Germany international, 32, has indicated he has no intention of leaving Arsenal early.

Sokratis and Shkodran Mustafi are also free to leave in January and Arteta says it will be down to the players to decide their future.

Arteta has dismissed the idea that Arsenal could look to terminate Ozil’s contract early and said: “You can just try to be open with players, tell them your intentions and the role they have in the team, and why that is.

“At the end, they are entitled to make the decision in their lives because they have a contract here. Some would like to move because they are not playing and some would like to stay. At the end of the day we cannot decide.”