Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has reportedly told Mesut Ozil that he remains part of his plans for the rest of the season, despite being axed against Manchester City over his lack of sharpness.
The German was dropped from the Gunners’ 20-man squad as they fell to a 3-0 defeat to Pep Guardiola’s side at the Etihad Stadium.
After the game, Spaniard Arteta insisted that the decision to leave Ozil at home was due to ‘tactical reasons’.
However, according to the Daily Mail, the Arsenal boss called the midfielder to explain that he wasn’t sharp enough to play and wants to see more from him in training.
Despite not featuring against City, the report states that Arteta still views Ozil as an important part of the team for their nine remaining fixtures this season.
The 31-year-old’s future at the Emirates is looking increasingly uncertain with the club said to be looking to sell him this summer.
Ozil’s contract is due to expire in 2021, meaning if a deal isn’t struck before then he could walk away for free in 12 months.
Potential suitors would be unlikely to match his £350,000-a-week wages demands, so the club are now considering sending him out on loan and paying a portion of his earnings.
The Gunners will have the chance to rebound from their loss against City when they travel to Brighton on Saturday.
With David Luiz’s red card on Wednesday night resulting in a two-game ban, Arteta is reportedly set to promote academy product Zech Medley to the first team as a defensive option.
MORE: Why the Arsenal board want Mesut Ozil to leave Arsenal this summer
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