Arsenal manager suggests Mesut Ozil will continue to be rotated

Arsenal manager Unai Emery has said that Mesut Ozil will continue to be rotated during the forthcoming matches for the club. The former Germany international made a rare start against BATE Borisov in the Europa League on Thursday night but he could not make the most of the opportunity after failing to contribute a goal or an assist.

Speaking after the game, Emery highlighted that Ozil played with a good mentality on the night but does not necessarily assure him of a regular starting role, he said: “Today he showed what he wants. If he is available, like the last two weeks, we are going to play a lot of matches and maybe sometimes we need him in the starting XI and sometimes on the bench because we have a lot of players to also help us. His spirit like today is good and his quality and capacity and combination with some players is good.I think we need every player, and playing Mesut was important and positive.”

Ozil has made the single league start for the Gunners since Boxing Day but he stands the chance of featuring against Southampton this weekend. Nonetheless, the final decision could be taken based on the workrate shown in training which Emery has supposedly demanded over the course of the campaign.

Meanwhile, Arsenal’s prospects of returning to the Champions League next term remain alive through both the Europa League and Premier League. The Gunners progressed to the last 16 stage of the Europa League on Thursday night after a 3-1 aggregate win over BATE Borisov and they are now scheduled to face Rennes across two legs. Elsewhere, they are just one point behind fourth-placed Manchester United in the league standings, but they can jump ahead with a win, provided the Red Devils drop points against fierce rivals Liverpool.