Boss demands more

UNAI EMERY has told Mesut Ozil commitment is more important than the size of his salary.

The German – who earns £350,000 a week – is back in the squad to face Burnley today after not starting a Premier League game since November 11.

Arsenal’s top earner was axed from the 18-man squad for the midweek Carabao Cup defeat by Tottenham.

Uncertainty over Ozil’s future has replaced the feel-good factor from a 22-match unbeaten run which ended at Southampton last Sunday.

And the Gunners boss gave an unconvincing answer when asked if the £42m playmaker was available for a transfer or loan in January, with Inter Milan among the interested clubs.

Important

“I’m not thinking about this situation,” he said. But Emery, who managed Neymar at PSG, insisted he is more focused on performances than pay packets, with Ozil’s special status under old boss Arsene Wenger clearly over.

“Some matches we need different things tactically and individually,” said the Spaniard. “It’s not only for him.

“The player’s salary is not important. I don’t know the player’s salary because for me they are the same. Every player, I want to give them the same conversation or the same decision to play or not play.

“The most important thing for me is the commitment and when I decide they are not playing because of a tactical decision. If you are asking if this is different because one has more salary than another, for me it’s the same.

“The important thing for me is to be okay training every day with good behaviour and good commitment and giving us their quality.

“Our focus is only the match, with 18 players in the squad. One is Mesut.

I trust in him, I trust in our team, our players. That is my focus.

“I want every player with a good mentality to help us and give us their characteristics and quality. We need Mesut Ozil. Does he have a future here? Yes, why not?”

An injury to Henrikh Mkhitaryan could open the way for Ozil’s recall today. But the message from Emery was clear: Nobody is guaranteed a starting place.

“When you play with two strikers, it is more difficult to play with a No.10,” said Emery.

“It depends on how you can line-up your team. You need players with quality, with intensity. Players who are faster. Players who are calm with the ball.”

Emery has held talks with Ozil but grouped him yesterday with other fringe players.

“Every player wants to play,” he said. “The frustration is the same when they don’t.”