OZIL IS NO TOP GUNNER
BOURNEMOUTH . 1 ARSENAL ...... 2
ARSENAL boss Unai Emery dropped Mesut Ozil to the bench as his side returned to winning ways.
Then he admitted he needed players who could cope with the “physicality and intensity” of Bournemouth.
Arsenal’s fourth away victory of the season extended their unbeaten run to 17 games.
But £42million playmaker Ozil played no part – and did not even warm up.
Emery said: “We thought how we can be better in the match today, a very demanding match with physicality and intensity. But every player is important.
“Also today we tried with three centre-backs, and it is another possibility to improve BY NEIL McLEMAN or find our best performance in the squad.
“In the beginning of the season we were speaking every day about the need to be competitive. We need to be organised, we need the individual quality to improve our performance. It was the same today.”
Asked why one of his club captains did not even warm-up, the Spaniard added: “It depends how the match is going, what the result is. I decided for other options.”
A bizarre own goal from Jefferson Lerma put Arsenal in front but Josh King, back in the Bournemouth side after injury, equalised just before half-time.
However, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s 10th goal of the season sealed the win.
“Today is 17 matches we haven’t lost but the last three matches we drew,” said Emery. “We know that is not enough for us, for our objectives.”