Arteta aims to solve Ozil issue as Blues clash looms
■ was notable that Ozil was substituted without protest 15 minutes from full-time at Bournemouth after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had cancelled out Dan Gosling’s opener.
Ozil later expressed support for the methods of his new manager, finishing a tweet with the words “Let’s trust the process”.
Top-four finish
Now Arteta hopes his faith in Ozil is rewarded with a commanding display in the London derby against fourth placed Chelsea. Arsenal are eight points behind Chelsea in the race to qualify for the Champions League via a top-four finish.
A win against Frank Lampard’s side would breathe a little life into Arsenal’s fading bid to return to Europe’s elite club competition. And they face Chelsea at an opportune moment after the Blues slumped to a 2-0 home defeat to Southampton on Thursday.
League leaders Liverpool, meanwhile, have recalled Nathaniel Phillips from his loan spell with German club Stuttgart in response to a sudden shortage of centre-backs at Anfield.
Reds manager Jurgen Klopp is down to two fit senior central defenders in Virgil Van Dijk and Joe Gomez, with Joel Matip (knee) and Dejan Lovren (hamstring) both sidelined and midfielder Fabinho — a possible replacement — also out with a knee injury. Now a recall for the 22-year-old Phillips, who has made 11 appearances for the Bundesliga 2 side this season, could see him make his debut in the FA Cup third round Merseyside derby tie at home to Everton on January 5.
Liverpool will next take on Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield today, the Wolves being on a high after rallying to beat the Premiership winners Manchester City on Friday night.