GUNNERS STAR HAS RESPECT OF CLUB MATES, SAYS EMERY
Singapore, July 25: Arsenal boss Unai Emery said on Wednesday Mesut Ozil has nothing but respect from his teammates after his decision to quit Germany’s national team claiming racism sparked uproar in his home country.
Emery said Arsenal were taking pains to make sure Ozil, 29, feels comfortable at the club as controversy rages in Germany over his acrimonious walk-out following the World Cup in Russia.
“We want to help all the players and Mesut to feel here with us like he’s at home, like a family,” Emery, who is in his first weeks as Arsenal coach, said during a pre-season visit to Singapore.
“We are every player’s family and for him to work every day, to work well with his team mates, is good for us... I’m very happy with him. I’m looking at every player and I think Mesut, he has here the respect of every player.”
Ozil, who was born in Germany to Turkish-origin parents, said he felt “racism and disrespect” — pointing the finger at German football authorities — in his no-holdsbarred statement released over the weekend.
“For him it’s one thing with the national team and another with us,” Emery said.
“Normality is the best thing for him and I am sure he’s going to do a big season with us this year... It’s very, very personal and here I want to help him.
“Everybody at the club is thinking like me to help him and to feel (good) here and express his quality with us.”
Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech also said the players were keen to support Ozil, who smashed the club’s transfer record when he moved from Real Madrid in 2013.