Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta insists he has been “more than fair” with Mesut Ozil and insists there are no issues between him and the German after leaving him out of the squad to face Manchester City.
Ozil was left out of the 20-man squad that lost 3-0 at the Etihad on Wednesday, with Arteta explaining afterwards that was due to tactical reasons.
The Spaniard was on Thursday pressed again on the attacking midfielder’s absence, who is Arsenal’s highest earner with a wage of £350,000-a-week.
Arteta insists there is no problem with Ozil and his relationship with him and he will put him back on the pitch when he thinks he can deliver his best again.
"He was very well with me. There were no issues at all,” said Arteta.
“My conversations with Mesut will remain between me and him. What I can tell you is that it was a completely fine, honest and clear conversation. That's it.
“I have been very open with Mesut from day one. Since I joined I thought that he was fit and he was willing and he wanted to perform at the level he can do.
“He has played every game with me I think. So that it is. The moment I see that he is ready again to do that, I will treat him like anybody else.
“I think I have been more than fair with him and I think he has responded in many games the way I want. That’s it.
“There's a lot that's happened to him in the last few weeks and I have to respect the time for every player. Sometimes they need a little bit of time.
“It's been difficult preparation the last two months to get players ready and again, I'm the first one who wants Mesut at the best. I'm going to put him on the pitch when I think he can give his best.”
