MESUT OZIL called time on his illustrious career back in March
The German midfielder, now 34, was fondly remembered at Arsenal, although he was frozen out by manager Mikel Arteta for the best part of a year, while collecting £350,000 a week.
GettyMesut Ozil last played for Fenerbahce[/caption]
Getty Images – GettyMesut Ozil celebrates with his Gunners team-mates at Wembley in 2014[/caption]
Ozil agreed to give up a chunk of his remaining salary in order to leave the club on good terms, when he moved to Fenerbahce.
His departure meant he was the last of the 2014 FA Cup winners to leave the Emirates.
Ozil bid farewell to his Gunners team-mates and staff and it was current boss Arteta who captained the North Londoners to glory at Wembley nine years ago.
SunSport takes a look at what happened to all of Ozil’s fellow Cup winners after they mounted a comeback to beat Hull City 3-2 after extra time.
Lukasz Fabianski
Polish shot-stopper Lukasz Fabianski left Arsenal as his contract expired in the summer after the FA Cup win. He joined Swansea where he spent four years before signing for West Ham for £7million in 2018.
He is now David Moyes’ No1 at the London Stadium.
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Bacary Sagna
Another to leave the summer after winning the Cup, Bacary Sagna made 284 appearances for the Gunners in a seven-year spell.
He joined Manchester City on a free and told Goal: “I didn’t knock at the club’s door to change contract, I respected my contract, but the way I left was a bit dirty.
“I didn’t like it, I didn’t feel comfortable anymore. Something broke inside my head.”
Sagna retired from the game in 2020 after leaving Club de Foot Montreal.
Per Mertesacker
German giant Per Mertesacker finished his playing career at Arsenal in 2018 before being named head of the club’s academy.
He is coming up to five years in the role and previously filled in as an interim assistant coach to Freddie Ljungberg after Unai Emery was sacked in November 2019 and he now works as pundit for DAZN in his homeland.
Laurent Koscielny
Former skipper Laurent Koscielny angered Gooners by ripping off the Arsenal jersey in his unveiling at Bordeaux in 2019.
It took him a year for him to apologise to Arsenal fans in 2020.
The now 37-year-old captains the French club, until retiring last year.
Getty Images – GettyArsenal’s players parade the 2014 FA Cup trophy[/caption]
Kieran Gibbs
England international left-back Kieran Gibbs left Arsenal after a decade in North London in 2017.
He signed a four-year deal at West Brom with a transfer fee in the region of £7m and still turned out for Baggies last season.
Last summer he moved to America to sign for Inter Miami, but they ripped up his contract in February and he works for their broadcast team.
Mikel Arteta
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta captained the victorious Gunners from central midfield at Wembley nearly seven years ago.
He retired in 2016 and then spent three years as Pep Guardiola’s No2 at Manchester City before returning to the Emirates as manager in December 2019.
Aaron Ramsey
Welsh midfielder Aaron Ramsey made 371 appearances for Arsenal before leaving for Juventus on a free in 2019.
Ramsey earned a cool £400,000 a week in Serie A, but couldn’t get a game in Italy.
However, he has appeared more at French club Nice, who announced they are extending his contract last month.
Santi Cazorla
Spaniard Santi Cazorla left Arsenal in 2018 after a horrific Achilles tendon injury in 2016 looked like it could have ended his career.
Cazorla returned to Villarreal after eight operations and a skin grant and enjoyed something of a renaissance before signing for Qatari side Al Sadd in 2020, where he still plays.
Mesut Ozil
Getty Images – GettyOzil is the last of Arsenal’s 2014 FA Cup winners to move on[/caption]
Mesut Ozil did not play for Arsenal again after the 1-0 win over West Ham in March 2020 having been axed by Arteta – who left him out of both the Premier and Europa League 25-man squad last season.
He has since retired, after playing in Turkey at Fenerbahce.
Lukas Podolski
German forward Lukas Podolski joined Galatasaray from Arsenal in 2015, before moving to Japanese side Vissel Kobe two years later.
The Polish-born star bagged 31 goals in 82 appearances for the Gunners and returned to Turkey with Antalyaspor.
Last summer he headed to Poland to join Gornik Zabrze.
Off the pitch, the 37-year-old is quite the businessman after opening SIX Kebab shops in Germany – with hungry crowds flocking to try his meaty offerings.
He also owns a boozer, an ice cream parlour and a clothes shop as Podolski diversifies his income with a view to life post-football.
Getty – ContributorLukas Podolski owns SIX Kebab joints in Germany[/caption]
Olivier Giroud
Olivier Giroud crossed London to join Chelsea from Arsenal in January 2018 and went on to win the World Cup with France that summer.
The 36-year-old haunted his old side with a goal and an assist in the 4-1 defeat in the 2019 Europa League final.
He left Chelsea after a lack of game time last year for AC Milan after helping them to Champions League glory.
Getty Images – GettyThe Gunners celebrate overturning a 2-0 deficit to beat Hull and lift the FA Cup[/caption]
SUBS
Jack Wilshere
English midfielder Jack Wilshere left Arsenal for West Ham in 2018.
But he quit the Hammers after his £100,000-a-week contract was ripped up and signed a six-month contract at Bournemouth.
Since retiring, he has helped coach the Gunners youngsters, helping their youth team reach the FA Youth Cup final
Tomas Rosicky
Legendary Czech midfielder Tomas Rosicky left Arsenal to return to boyhood side Sparta Prague in 2016.
He retired a year later and is now sporting director at the club.
Yaya Sanogo
Talented striker Yaya Sanogo left the Gunners for Toulouse in 2017.
But he was released by the French side in 2021 after netting just 12 goals.
Following a short stint at Huddersfield Town, he now plays in the Armenian Premier League with Urartu.