Unai Emery says he is confident Mesut Ozil can play within his system after the German returned to Arsenal's matchday squad over the weekend.
Ozil, left out of the 18-man squad in the defeat at West Ham a week before, was an unused substitute as goals from Alexandre Lacazette and Laurent Koscielny claimed all three points against Chelsea while Aaron Ramsey shone as a No10, Ozil’s best position.
The midfielder has been on the fringes of Emery’s squad ever since the Spaniard’s arrival as he looks to players who are more likely to put in the effort off the ball as well as impact the game on it.
Ozil, who penned a £350,000-a-week deal last season, has been linked with a highly unlikely move away this month, but Emery says he would have been comfortable with the Arsenal star starting against Chelsea.
In Pictures | Arsenal vs Chelsea | 19/01/2019
“He was on Saturday okay to play, but we decided not play [him],” Emery said.
“I spoke with him also and I want to him be ready for the match today, for the next matches like all the players in the team.
“Against Chelsea, I have the confidence in him if he played, I think he could do like we want and the next matches we are going to need every player and also his quality.”
Arsenal host Manchester United in the FA Cup next on Friday night, which could offer a chance for Ozil to make his first appearance in any competition since a 1-1 draw at Brighton on Boxing Day.
The 30-year-old has, however, rarely featured against top six rivals this season, absent from League clashes with Tottenham and Manchester United with a back problem and left out for ‘tactical reasons’ when Spurs were the visitors in the League Cup.
Furthermore, with Emery having questioned whether or not games with physical opponents are right for Ozil, it would be hard to imagine him being a likely option to face Cardiff a week Tuesday.
