Emery says Arsenal board back Ozil dumping but boss will not reveal why he refuses to play £350k-a-week outcast
UNAI EMERY has revealed he was given the green light to dump £350,000-a-week misfit Mesut Ozil.
And the Arsenal boss has promised to explain the reasons why the German is being frozen out.
Ozil, 31, has made just TWO appearances this season and Emery said: “The most important thing is the club, the team and finding a performance.”
Ahead of this after-noon’s home clash with Crystal Palace, Emery was pressed on why he is not selecting the club’s highest-paid player — despite his return to fitness.
When asked if there was any pressure from those above him to select Ozil, Emery hinted he had consulted head of football Raul Sanllehi and technical director Edu.
He replied: “Here, we have one agreed strategy as a club and as a team.
“Previously we were all speaking between us to take that decision.
“I know all the supporters want to know something but now is not the moment to speak about him.
“In the next matches we are going to decide. And when we can speak about him something differently, we will look.”
Ozil has only played away to Watford and home to Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup — both times being hauled off after 71 minutes.
He was not even named on the subs’ bench for the 3-2 victory over Vitoria SC in the Europa League.
On the eve of that game, the playmaker shook hands with Emery at the Arsenal training ground and the pair had a lengthy conversation.
Ozil then posted a cryptic message on Twitter which simply said: “You make me laugh…”
Though his absence is the hot topic on the lips of many Arsenal fans, they will have been pleased to see the return of Alexandre Lacazette in midweek.
His comeback from an ankle injury means Emery is willing to shuffle his pack to accommodate the French forward.
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And that means top- scorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will have to accept being moved around the front line.
Emery said: “Lacazette will come back to his best little by little. He worked well against Vitoria.
“We can use Aubameyang right, left or as a second striker.”