Mesut Ozil is the highest paid player in Arsenal history, but he doesn’t seem to have a clear role with the current side. He was left out of the squad entirely last weekend in the loss to West Ham United, despite being fully fit and training with the team. Is manager Unai Emery trying to make some kind of point with his freezing out of the attacking midfielder?
Difficult to say as his answers for why Ozil gets left out have evolved, but remain vague each time he gives an explanation. Thursday was no exception, as Emery gave a longer than usual answer, but it didn’t provide any real insight. Emery insists there is no issue over Ozil’s current form or lack of playing time, although actions and evidence say otherwise.
“I like to create the same spirit for all, and that spirit is every players gets and gives consistent work and moments with their performances but it’s not easy,” Emery said.
“Sometimes you are better and sometimes you are worse. I’m working with every player in the same way. The most important thing for me is how he can help us and how every player can help us with their consistency.”
With the huge clash against Chelsea coming up this weekend, where Arsenal’s top four ambitions hang in the balance, they will need all their best players to feature and be at their best. They can’t afford to have a £350,000-a-week player warming the bench.
Ozil’s severely diminished role has led to incessant talk of the German international’s potential exit from the Emirates this January. However, Emery has dismissed that idea and said that there is a chance Ozil could maybe feature on Saturday.
“I’m not thinking about that,” Emery said when asked if he was looking to sell. “I’m thinking about how he can help us this year with good performances. He’s had injuries and not been OK to play matches, but now after these two weeks maybe this Saturday will be okay for him.”
Chelsea at Arsenal FYIs
Kickoff: Saturday, January 19, 5:30 PM local, Emirates
Google Result Probability: Chelsea win 39%, Draw 28%, Arsenal win 33%
Starting XI Predictions: Chelsea
Injury Report for both sides: go to this link
Manager Press Conference Videos and Quotes: coming Friday
Odds via Bet Fair: Chelsea win 11/8, Draw 27/10, Arsenal win 19/10
Prediction: Chelsea 2, Arsenal 2
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.