Sports
Mesut Ozil told to ‘work harder’ by Unai Emery
Unai Emery has demanded more from Mesut Ozil and told the Arsenal midfielder he must work harder for the team.
German superstar Ozil was hugely disappointing in Emery’s first game in charge in the defeat to Manchester City last Sunday which led to accusations of him going missing in another big game.
Ozil has struggled for form since signing a £350,000-a-week deal last January and it was noticeable that Emery tried to use him in a deeper midfield role.
But Emery made it clear he expects Ozil to track back, defend and get more involved rather than be a luxury player in a No10 role.
Gunners boss Emery said: “Every player needs to do [that] in the true moment of a match. There are defensive moments and attacking moments. Every player each needs this commitment.
“For me, we need to start together, whether we are attacking or defending. I want that from every player. The positioning, he [Ozil] is playing all his career like a 10, like a right winger going inside to receive the ball.
“It’s clear he needs the ball more to give more options in attack. He needs to do in each match, be demanding for us. Defensive moments are for each and every player. Don’t change Mesut Ozil in his positioning.”
Emery admits Arsenal face another huge test against Chelsea after the baptism of fire against City when they came up horribly short.
But their best spell in the City game came after Emery brought on Alexandre Lacazette to partner Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and insisted they could play together as he looks for a winning formula in his line-up.
Emery, who has hinted that Lucas Torreira could start against Chelsea, said: “The possibility to play Aubameyang and Lacazette is okay because we are trying like that in pre-season and also last year they played together also.
“Each match is different, each match is a different possibility. Against Manchester City, the last 25, 30 minutes they played together. For me it is to find good balance for all that we want in attacking moments and defensive moments.
“I want to look at every player together, how to get Aubameyang and Lacazette scoring more goals, whether as one or together.
“I want to give them the chances in each match and maybe we need a lot of matches for the chances for every player but we started with the pre-season and every player is playing for chances and minutes and with all the competitions.
“We started on Sunday and we play Sunday, Sunday, Sunday but in September we will start playing Sunday and Thursday and also we are going to play more matches and I think every player will get chances to show us his performance for the team.”
Arsenal’s start under Emery will come into focus again with the Chelsea game being shown on BT Sport after Sky televised their game with City last week.
But overtures from both TV companies to get Arsene Wenger on as a TV pundit have been quickly rebuffed despite the former Arsenal boss being back in London.
Wenger, who has a long standing TV deal with beIN Sports, has gone to staff leaving dos and been in good form and health but made it clear he wants to stay away for the early games.
