Emery says Ozil still part of Arsenal plans

Arsenal boss Unai Emery insists that Mesut Ozil is still a part of the team’s plans. Ozil who signed a new contract last January has not featured for Arsenal since Boxing Day. Ozil missed the start of December due to a back injury but returned to the squad and played a few games before suffering a knee injury. This knee injury kept him out Arsenal’s league games against Fulham and Liverpool and their FA Cup match against Blackpool.

Ozil is back to full fitness but Emery did not use him in Arsenal’s last two matches against West Ham and Chelsea. Ozil wasn’t even in the squad against West Ham but he did make the team squad for the Chelsea game. The former Germany international spent the entirety of the match on the bench.

Emery said that he decided not to play Ozil against Chelsea and that the 30-year old may play Arsenal’s next match. Emery said, “He was on Saturday okay to play, but we decided not play [him]. I spoke with him also and I want to him be ready for the match today, for the next matches like all the players in the team.

Against Chelsea, I have the confidence in him if he played, I think he could do like we want and the next matches we are going to need every player and also his quality.”

Arsenal’s next match is another tough game, an FA Cup fixture against a rejuvenated Manchester United on Friday.