TWO MONTHS TO PROVE YOU’VE STILL GOT IT
Arteta gives Ozil a December deadline to get back in the frame
MIKEL ARTETA has told Mesut Ozil he has two months to prove himself at Arsenal.
The Gunners boss left misfit Ozil out of his Europa League squad last week and has not named the playmaker once in his team since March.
But Arteta is still expecting the German, whose contract runs out in the summer, to try to force his way back into his plans.
Defender Sokratis was also omitted for the Europe campaign and, ahead of a tough trip to Manchester City tomorrow, Arteta said: “I wanted to tell them face to face before releasing the squad.
“I explained the reasons why and the numbers we had. It was really difficult forme for me to tell them - but this is the restriction and rules.
“They have to respect that decision and try to train the best possible way, help the team when they can. Then we will see what happens in December.”
Arteta ( right, top) added: “To leave players out at that level, where they know they can’t get involved, is really tough. But the decision had to be made because we have an excess of foreign players.
“It’s down to us to find ways to motivate those players. And it is about how you react to disappointments disappointments. Try to look at the overall picture, make the right decisions.”
Ars Arsenal are still in talks with the Scott ish government over fullback Kieran Tierney, who they hope to get r released from his Covid q quarantine in time to pla play l at the Etihad. The Scotland defender ( left) was told to isolate f for 14 days on Tuesday l last week after his i international teammate Stuart Armstrong tes tested positive for coronavirus.
Tierney returned a negative test, and he and Arsenal insisted the players had not been in close contact. contact Discussions were continuing last night between the club, Lothian Protection Team, the Scottish government and the Scottish FA to try to get Tierney cleared for tomorrow’s game.
Arteta said: “I will be extremely disappointed if he is not able to play.
“It will be frustrating if he cannot, because we have tried to do all the right things to keep the players safe. We know the history with the player and what happened in the last few months with him as well.
“We are very reassured that there is not any risk for him to be involved with us.
“That is the case we are defending really strongly with the authorities.”