Unai Emery needs to bring Mesut Ozil in from the cold, proclaims Paul Merson
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Former Arsenal and Aston Villa star Paul Merson has begged Arsenal boss Unai Emery to play Mesut Ozil once again especially against the smaller sides. The German international has fallen out of favour at the Emirates with Emery opting to use either Dani Ceballos or youngster Joe Willock instead.
Once touted to be the change that Arsenal needed, the German flourished under former boss Arsene Wenger but has struggled to do the same under former PSG boss Unai Emery. Instead, Mesut Ozil has watched on from the bench for most of last season and this season as well, with Emery opting to use Aaron Ramsey, Lucas Torriera, Dani Ceballos and Joe Willock instead. That has worked to some extent with only Ceballos capable of producing what Ozil can and Emery's decision to freeze out the German has attracted some criticism from the fans.
Not only that, the Arsenal boss insisted last week that Ozil did not deserve a place in the starting line-up and admitted that the club’s younger stars deserved a chance to play instead. That has all but confirmed Ozil’s career at Arsenal is over with reports indicating that the German could leave on loan in January with Turkish side Galatasaray heavily linked. However, former Arsenal star Paul Merson has begged Emery to bring Ozil back into the team and use him as a weapon to capitalise on their rival’s poor form.
The pundit went on to add that while Ozil will struggle against the bigger sides, the German is brilliant against the smaller Premier League sides and needs to start if Arsenal wants a top-four finish. After the international break, the Gunners will play eight games before their next Big Six clash in the league although they do face Liverpool in the Carabao Cup.
"He’s a luxury player, and the manager has obviously decided he can’t carry a player like that in a team that’s already one of the worst around without the ball. With these games coming up, Arsenal are going to have 70% of the possession. He thrives in those situations. Unai Emery should bring him in from the cold. But he won’t. If he plays Ozil and they win, he has to keep playing him, and the manager doesn’t want that. The manager wants him out. And if that’s the plan then they are going to have to swallow a pill and get rid of him in January come what may,” said Merson to the Daily Star.
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