Arsenal flop Mesut Ozil loses 7-1 in nightmare start for new club Basaksehir

Mesut Ozil joined his second club since leaving Arsenal last month - but his first outing in the colours of Istanbul Basaksehir came in a match which finished in a 7-1 defeat

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Dan Burnham Senior Sports Reporter/Content Editor

05:30, 12 Aug 2022

Mesut Ozil of Medipol Basaksehir attends a training session ahead of the UEFA Europa Conference League 3rd qualifying round 2nd leg soccer match between Medipol Basaksehir and Breidablik in Istanbul, Turkiye on August 10, 2022

Mesut Ozil hasn't had the start he would have been hoping for in Istanbul(Image: Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Former Arsenal star Mesut Ozil endured a nightmare start to life at his new club Istanbul Basaksehir.

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Ozil, 33, joined the Turkish side last month on a one-year deal after leaving their rivals Fenerbahce, who suspended him in March following a row with their manager. He hasn't played a senior match since then.

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In order to get him back to match fitness, the ex-Germany international started for Basaksehir's reserves in their match against Kasimpasa on Wednesday (August 10). And his side were on the receiving end of a 7-1 battering at home.

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Ozil played only until half-time, at which point Kasimpasa were leading 1-0. After he was brought off Basaksehir conceded another six times, only mustering one goal in response.

Fortunately the first team did far better as they started the season with a 4-0 win over Kasimpasa. And manager Emre Belozoglu, formerly of Newcastle, is hoping Ozil will be ready to join them in the coming weeks.

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He said recently: "Ozil has not been working with the team for four to five months. He will have another 20-25 days ahead of him to be ready.

Should Arsenal have kept hold of Ozil? Let us know in the comments section.

Mesut Ozil of Arsenal looks dejected during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 second leg match between Arsenal FC and Olympiacos FC at Emirates Stadium on February 27, 2020

Ozil left Arsenal in January 2021 after being left out in the cold by Mikel Arteta(Image: Offside via Getty Images)

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"We are doing our best and he is doing his best, he wants to play football. We are happy with Mesut, he has to finish well in his career."

Once one of the Premier League's brightest stars, Ozil had his Arsenal contract terminated in January 2021 after a mixture of on-the-pitch and off-the-pitch issues left him out in the cold. He hadn't played for eight months prior to his release.

He joined Fenerbahce on a three-and-a-half year deal and was finding some form last season until another falling out led to his second straight contract termination.

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