Emery: Now we’ll see the best of Ozil

ARSENAL v LEICESTER EMIRATES STADIUM KICK-OFF — 8pm, LIVE ON SKY SPORTS MAIN EVENT

UNAI EMERY believes Arsenal will benefit from a more focused Mesut Ozil as a result of his acrimonious international retirement. Former Gunners boss Arsene Wenger recently questioned whether Ozil’s motivation levels could drop now that the German no longer has an international championship to target. But Emery would not appear to share those concerns about his playmaker, who complained of ‘racism and disrespect’ when he retired from international football in July. With the 30-year-old expected to feature against Leicester this evening, Emery said: ‘The players who are playing with the national teams, it is not easy as they are pyg playing two matches. When players py stop these international games maybe it can mean the focus is more for us, with training and improving. It could help Ozil find our idea more quickly.’ When Leicester last met Arsenal, in May, manager Claude Puel was under serious pressure and needed a win to save his job. The Frenchman’s players delivered for him that day and, approaching a year in charge at Leicester, he could do with a repeat performance to ward off criticism of his tactics. ‘I don’t know if it was the best time to arrive at Leicester because the club needed to evolve,’ he said. ‘Some of the players can form the new version of the club. For others it will be difficult.’

VERDICT BET: Coral are offering 3-1 on Mesut Ozil to score in an Arsenal victory.