ARTETA: DOOR STILL OPEN FOR AXED OZIL

MIKEL ARTETA has told Mesut Ozil that he has two months to prove himself at Arsenal.

The Gunners boss left German misfit Ozil out of his Europa League squad last week and has not named the playmaker in his team since March.

But Arteta is still ll expecting Ozil

( inset), whose contract expires in the summer, to try and force his way back into his plans.

Arteta, whose side face a tough trip to Manchester City tomorrow, also left defender Sokratis out of the Europa squad.

He 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 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 added: “To leave players out at that level, where they know they cannot get involved, is really tough. But the decisio decision had to be mad made because we ha have an excess of fo foreign players.

“It is down to u us to find ways to motivate those pl players. And it is abo about how you react to disappointments – try to look at the overall picture.”

Arsenal are still in talks with the Scottish government over defender Kieran Tierney, who they hope to get released from his Covid quarantine in time to play at the Etihad.

Arteta said: “I will be extremely disappointed if he is not able to play.

“It will be frustrating because we have tried to do all the right things to keep the players safe.”