Decision to drop Mesut Ozil was taken by whole club, admits Unai Emery
With Mesut Ozil struggling to get a look-see into Unai Emery’s squad the Spaniard explained that the decision to drop the German was taken by the whole club. The former Real Madrid star has failed to make an impact under the Arsenal boss and has made just two appearances so far this season.
When the German midfielder first arrived at Arsenal both fans and critics considered Mesut Ozil to be the big-name player that the Gunners needed to improve. However, while things haven’t exactly gone according to plan for either the club or the attacking midfielder the former Real Madrid star has seen his fortunes go from bad to worse under Unai Emery. This season, Ozil has struggled to make an impact at Arsenal with the German failing to make Emery’s matchday squad over the last five weeks or so.
The Spaniard, who replaced Arsene Wenger last season, has offered little explanation as to his decision to drop the club’s highest-paid player with rumours about a potential fall-out between manager and player floating about. Yet despite that in a recent interview Ozil insisted that he wants to stay at the club. But in a recent interview, Emery went on to admit that people high up in the club believe that dropping Ozil has been the right move despite support for the German growing outside the club.
"Here, we have one agreed strategy as a club and as a team. Because the most important thing is the club, the team and finding a performance. Previously we were all speaking between us to take that decision. I know all the supporters want to know something but now is not the moment. I think it is not the moment to speak about him . We are going to play on Sunday and in the next matches and we are going to decide, and when we can speak about him something differently we will look," he said reports Sky Sports.
With Ozil ostracised from the club and Dani Ceballos still adapting to Unai Emery’s style of play, one of the many players used as a number 10 has been Lucas Torriera. The former Sampdoria midfielder has been used higher up the pitch this season despite doing rather well as a deep-lying defensive midfielder last season and that has once again seen critics question as to why the Arsenal boss was doing that when he had players like Joe Willock, Dani Ceballos and even Ozil himself. But Emery went on to explain that this is part of a plan to help the club improve defensively by pressing from inside the opposition’s box.
"I was speaking with him about his best position to help us in our shape. It depends on the shape. Last season his best position was playing as a deep midfield two alongside (Granit) Xhaka or Matteo (Guendouzi). This year we are playing also sometimes with just one, and he can achieve with his quality to get to the box and get closer to score and is very intelligent about getting space around the box and taking chances.
"Then also, when we prepare the team to do high pressing, for us he is very important because he is very intelligent tactically but he can play in the two positions - the two midfielders, he can play higher for the pressing and to get into the box,” concluded the Spaniard.