Wenger won’t drop Mesut despite link to Old Trafford

ARSENE Wenger has no concerns about playing Mesut Ozil against United tomorrow, despite the Arsenal playmaker’s apparent interest in moving to Old Trafford.

Ozil, 29, is understood to have earmarked the Reds as the only Premier League club he wants to join as he approaches the last six months of his Arsenal contract.

M.E.N. Sport reported last month the Germany international has been advised to run down his Gunners contract in order to secure a free transfer in the summer. United are understood to be unlikely to make any signing in the January transfer window unless an opportunity arises, but Jose Mourinho is interested in reuniting with Ozil next year.

Ozil scored in Arsenal’s 5-0 win over Huddersfield on Wednesday night to keep them four points behind United and Wenger is set to start the former Real Madrid forward tomorrow.

“That’s all speculation, you cannot interfere with that,” Wenger said of Ozil’s interest in a move to United. “I think Mesut Ozil, through his attitude, there’s only one way to show how much you’re committed, that’s your attitude on the pitch and when you see him play one thing you cannot question is the way he wants to play for the team.

“They [Ozil and Alexis Sanchez] are committed. Let’s first go to Saturday and then after January we see what happens there.”

Wenger is hopeful City target Sanchez will be fit for the United game, despite a slight hamstring problem.

He said: “Sanchez had a little hamstring problem, that’s why I took him off. But I think he’ll be all right.”