Unai Emery refused to clarify whether Mesut Ozil has a future at Arsenal, after leaving him out of the squad entirely for the 2-0 League Cup quarter-final defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.
Pressed three times on the situation and specifically asked about whether Ozil might be sold, Emery merely repeated that he is concentrating on Arsenal’s next matches.
Ozil has already been left out of a series of games this season – particularly those away from home, with the manager having cited physical concerns. With talk already growing that a difference has developed between coach and player over his tactical role in the team, Emery did not take any steps to play down such talk when offered.
“My focus is analysing this match and Saturday,” Emery first said when asked whether Ozil cold be sold in January.
“It was a tactical decision because I thought the players today with us was for us the best for this match,” he also stated.
Emery said Ozil was in the stadium for the match but when asked how he responded to the decision, the manager said: “He is thinking in every player we have, 24, 25 players… it is for me the decision.”
When asked again whether Ozil has a future, and how conspicuous the situation was, Emery simply repeated: “I am thinking the match on Saturday and not thinking another situation. Every player they are important, and one I decided they didn’t play. Only a tactical decision.”
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