ABOUT TYNE, OZIL

He’s been at the club FIVE years..but tomorrow he’ll finally play Howay at Newcastle..and Emery expects

MESUT OZIL will play his first game at Newcastle tomorrow – with Unai Emery expecting an extra special performance from his star midfielder.

Despite joining in 2013, Ozil has never played at St James’ Park for Arsenal because of a mixture of injuries and being rested from a trip to the North East.

But Gunners boss Emery believes Ozil will be all the sharper for a two-week rest during the international break, having quit playing for Germany.

Emery said: “The players are used to playing in the international break, in important matches.

“So if they stop doing that, I think it is good for them to focus only on their club. For Mesut, it was important to focus every day with us, as well as having a relaxing three days off last weekend.

“The reason we are working with our players is to ensure they arrive in Newcastle in the best condition.

“That’s the same for Mesut. He is working well. He is OK.

“When I look at him I can see his focus is totally here.

“We get on very well. I have a very good relationship with him and professionally I push Mesut to improve so he can play at his best on the pitch.”

Ozil has been in the spotlight after a stop-start season since Emery took charge, but the £350,000-aweek star is under pressure to start delivering for Arsenal.

Emery is in no doubt that the German (below with his club-mates in training yesterday) can play in the No.10 role or do a job out wide. “In his career he played like a No.10 and on the right coming in with his quality. Here he has played both,” said Emery.

“Mesut is very convinced about that in my conversations with him. I usually give players the position they feel best in. Mesut can play these two positions.

“I want to give him the opportunity to do his best, to make decisive passes, to do more in and around the opposition box, and to score.

“He is feeling like I am feeling. He can improve, he can do more. In this process, we will work, we will help him, we will give him the chance to show his quality in matches.”

Emery has also admitted that he does not know whether chief executive Ivan Gazidis is leaving to join AC Milan, having been made a lucrative offer to join the Serie A club.

Emery, who was appointed by Gazidis, said: “First of all, every conversation with him is speaking about us and about our work here every day. I don’t know any other news from him.

“Every conversation with me is about Arsenal. About our performance. About our ideas. Our process.

“We did not speak about his future. That’s a question for him.”