Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil misery is set to continue after media reports in England says the former Germany international is set for more time on the bench which has put his future at the club in doubt.
Gunners boss Unai Emery dropped Ozil for Sunday’s win at Bournemouth amid questions about his work rate. Emery is understood to be particularly disappointed with Ozil’s contribution for the draw at Crystal Palace last month and that was the reason behind his absence on Sunday. The Gunners boss is expected to make wholesale changes for their Europa League tie at Ukrainian side Vorskla Poltava on Thursday with a derby against Spurs on Sunday.
Gunners captain Laurent Koscielny returned to action in an U23 game last night, six months after rupturing his achilles. Speaking about Ozil on Sunday, Emery said: “We thought how we can be better in the match today, a very demanding match with physicality and intensity. “But every player is important.
“Also today we tried with three centre-backs, like in some moments this season, we worked today and it is another possibility to improve or find our best performance in the squad.” But pundit Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thinks Emery is trying to provoke a response from Ozil. “He has to put the manager in a position that he is the first one on that sheet,” Hasselbaink told Sky Sports. “And at the moment he is not doing that. “He’s not creating enough, as we know he can. He has to start producing week in, week out.
“What this manager is bringing to Arsenal now is nobody is safe of a place. “You have to produce and that’s why they are stronger. “That’s why you see a kind of urgency in their game.“And I think he is trying to give Ozil at times a kick under the bum.”