Mikel Arteta is ready to hand Mesut Ozil clean slate despite being written off by Freddie Ljungberg.
The German was absent during Saturday’s 0-0 draw against Everton mostly due to a foot injury.
Ljungberg came out and pointed at Ozil’s reaction to being substituted in the Manchester City game. The midfielder proceeded to express his frustrations by kicking the water bottle on the sidelines.
Ljungberg said after the game at Goodison Park, “I got asked about it and said, ‘At Arsenal , that’s not how we behave and not what we do’. I stand by that. Mesut was injured, but I would not have picked him for the squad because I want to make a stance that it’s not what I accept from an Arsenal football player.”
Arteta was seen rushing down to the dressing room right after the final whistle last weekend. He held his first training session on Monday, in preperation for the Boxing Day fixture against Bournemouth. The Spaniard called Ozil and outstanding player.
When speaking about the changes he will need to bring, Arteta said, “My job started straight after the game to pick the players up mentally and put them in the work frame that I want.
“With me, they have a clean sheet I told them. You’re not going to be judged on what you’ve done in the past whether it’s negative or positive. This is evolving everyday and I’m expecting you to perform and be in the right mindset every single day for me. If you do that, you have a chance to play, if you don’t you won’t.”
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