Why Emery suggests to Ozil it would be best to leave Arsenal

Unai Emery has suggested to Mesut Ozil that it would be best for him to leave Arsenal, according to BBC journalist David Ornstein.

The Gunners’ highest-paid player has returned to full training over the last couple of weeks following a knee problem, but was left out of Emery’s travelling party completely as Declan Rice’s first senior goal sealed a 1-0 victory for West Ham at the London Stadium.

Ozil has missed a number of games this season, with differing reasons given for his absence. A 2-1 win at Bournemouth in November was the only time Emery conceded the former Germany international was left out for tactical reasons.

Speculation has grown over the last fortnight that Arsenal could look to offload Ozil despite the club having to ‘subsidise’ some of his wages if he is to leave on loan.

And Ornstein has backed up reports that Ozil, who is understood to take home wages of £350,000-a-week, could leave by saying the board shares Emery’s view that the German should be sold.

“They’re not just rumours,” Ornstein told BBC Radio 5 Live. “Unai Emery has suggested to Mesut Ozil that it would be best for him to leave the club. And the hierarchy of the club feels that they would like him to move on.

“I think that’s mainly financially driven for a player earning £350,000 per week but also related to that is the fact he is not performing anywhere near the level when he has played on a consistent basis as we know he can produce from the past.

“He has no desire to leave, Mesut Ozil, so he won’t be leaving in the January transfer window. I’m told he’s working extremely hard to get himself fit. Reports coming out of London Colney is that he’s now doing extra gym work and he has a positive demeanour. He’s determined to work his way back into the side.

“The word was he wasn’t doing a lot of the extra work most players were, and he is now. I’ve heard positive things about his behaviour, his commitment, his relationships with the teammates.

“I don’t think that’s ever been a problem, but he’s clearly out of favour with the manager and that’s a very expensive problem for the club to have.”

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