Emery backs Ozil to focus and flourish

ARSENAL head coach Unai Emery believes Mesut Ozil’s international retirement will work in his side’s favour, dismissing suggestions made by predecessor Arsene Wenger that the playmaker will now lack “motivation.”

Wenger pointed out during the international break that Ozil’s retirement from Germany duty may impact on his Arsenal performances as he no longer has a World Cup or European Championships to aim for.

But Emery feels the North Londoners have benefited from having two weeks working with Ozil in order to get him used to his way of thinking, and now expects to see the best from him.

“I (can’t) explain with the players who are playing with the national teams,” he said. “Also it is not easy as they are playing two matches.

“When the players stop for these games maybe it can do the focus more for us, with training and improving on things. It could help him find our idea more quickly.”

Ozil endured a difficult World Cup and then announced he was quitting the international scene in an angry outburst against his treatment from the German FA.

But he has produced a much improved opening to this season where he has now scored three goals in his last five games.

Arsenal may have lost their first two games to Manchester City and Chelsea but now have won nine matches on the spin in all competitions prompting fans to sing “we’ve got our Arsenal back” during the 5-1 victory at Fulham last time out.

Now the message from Emery is clear ahead of tonight’s home game with Leicester City: don’t stop now.

“We are doing our way and we are improving our things,” he said. “We need to carry on to find our best individual and collective performance to stay close to Manchester City and Chelsea.

“But I say to you: we need to get better in a lot of things now. It is our best target now: don’t stop. Think and analyse with the players to improve this.

“We need to stay with the best teams. We need to get better at different things. We need to continue working calmly.”

Aaron Ramsey is set to feature for the first time for Arsenal tonight since confirming he will depart at the end of the campaign and not in January.

The midfielder withdrew from international duty with Wales last week due to the birth of twins but will be involved in the squad for the match with Leicester. On target: Mesut Ozil is bang in form after quitting Germany