Cesc Fabregas believes Mesut Ozil is lacking in a key area (Picture: Getty Images)

Cesc Fabregas believes Mesut Ozil has not got the mental qualities to be a leader after a forgettable display during Arsenal’s 4-1 loss to Chelsea in the Europa League final.

Few Arsenal players could say they played anywhere near their peak in Baku on Wednesday night, but Ozil was especially insipid in his performance.

The German was eventually replaced by 19-year-old Joe Willock in the 77th minute and trudged off the pitch at a snail’s pace, despite his side already being 4-1 down at that stage.

Former Arsenal and Chelsea player Fabregas believes that Ozil’s skills will see him prosper in the best teams in the world, but he doesn’t have the leadership qualities to succeed when things aren’t so easy.

‘I think sometimes you just have it inside or you don’t have it,’ Fabregas told BT Sport. ‘When he was at Real Madrid he was surrounded by top top players and one of the best players in the history of the sport in Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ozil cut a dejected figure in Baku on Wednesday (Picture: AMA/Getty Images)

‘I’m not taking anything away from Mesut, he played top football there, but once you step down a little bit, because we can all agree Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich they are top three, you have to show yourself a little bit more because you don’t have the same quality around you.

‘The club buys you to be the actual leader around the club. I don’t think Mesut has that in him to carry. I don’t train with him everyday, but I don’t think he has it in him to be leader.’

Fellow BT Sport pundit and former Chelsea striker Eidur Gudjohnsen took particular umbrage with Ozil’s sluggish exit from the field when substituted.

‘The one thing is you tell me if you’re the manager of Arsenal… you’re 4-1 down in the final you take Ozil off and he’s walking at the slowest pace like he’s waiting for a standing ovation,’ said Gudjohnsen.

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‘I’m sorry if that’s me i’d feel embarrassed, head down and I sprint off the pitch. ‘He’s a wonderful player, tremendous quality but as a manager I could never watch that in my team.’

The 30-year-old has been linked with an Arsenal exit this summer, despite signing a contract extension last February which will keep him at the club until the summer of 2021.

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