As part of cost-cutting measures, Premier League side Arsenal recently decided to fire their mascot Gunnersaurus after 27 years. This didn’t sit well with club’s star Mesut Ozil, who publicly offered to pay the mascot’s salary from his own pocket as long as he is a member of the Gunners.
Arsenal recently informed Jerry Quy, who has been wearing Gunnersaurus’ costume since 1993, that he is no longer an employee of the club. The London club explained their decision with the fact that there are no fans on the stands and that his job doesn’t exist anymore.
“Gunnersaurus is not extinct and will return to action when fans are allowed back at matches,” said Arsenal in an official statement.
The decision caused a huge backlash from the club’s supporters and former players but it was Ozil who made the first move to save Quy’s job.
“I was so sad that Jerry Quy aka our famous & loyal mascot Gunnersauru and integral part of our club was being made redundant after 27 years,” Ozil wrote on Twitter. “As such, I’m offering to reimburse Arsenal with the full salary of our big green guy as long as I will be an Arsenal player.”
It is unclear at the moment whether Arsenal will take the offer from Ozil, who is one of the club’s highest earners with a salary of $400,000 a week.
