Mikel Arteta, the manager of the Arsenal football club, has opened the door for star player Mesut Ozil to return to the squad in January.
Since March, Ozil has been frozen out of the Arteta team and has not been included in either the Premier League or Europa League Gunners’ squads.
In defense of Ozil, former Gunners boss Arsene Wenger recently spoke out, claiming he is not a difficult character to manage.
“He was not difficult to manage. He was a guy who had a special quality as a creative player and needed to have fun,” ESPN told the legendary former Arsenal boss.
He’s an artist, and they’re a bit more sensitive to these guys.
“They need support and an environment that pushes them to give their best.”
Arteta was given some suggestions by Wenger to get the best out of Ozil.
“You have two ways to see a football team. You get everybody to do the same. The same intensity of work, the same defensive work or you find a compromise,” he added.
You have a more creative player in the team who can do less defensive work, but around him, you build a team that can compensate for these shortcomings.
“That is what you have to think about.”
At the end of the season, Ozil’s deal is up and his Arsenal career seemed over but Arteta, who is under pressure to deliver or be sacked, is considering reinstating Ozil back to the team after Arsenal’s Sunday loss to Burnley, which has now placed them in a miserable 15th on the EPL table.
“Right now he’s not in the squad,” Arteta said at a press conference.
I’m just concentrating on the players that we have here.
“But in January, whatever happens, we have some time to decide,” he said.