Raul Sanllehi has offered Mesut Ozil hopes of a greater role at Arsenal in the coming weeks but urged the German to “contribute 24/7 to Unai Emery’s first team.
Ozil has played just 142 minutes of senior football this season and was not even named in the match day squad for Arsenal’s last three games with Emery instead choosing to hand minutes to young players.
The Arsenal hierarchy have noted that other squad members make a more significant contribution in training than Ozil, who has never shirked from work at London Colney but similarly has not gone above and beyond what might be expected of him.
Arsenal hope to find a club interested in signing Ozil during the January transfer window but in the meantime Sanllehi has insisted the German can win back a role in Emery’s plans.
"Unai has had many good players in other teams also, and he has always followed the same policy which is try not to make any distinctions, play the ones who work hard in training and reward the effort with playing time," he said.
"There is nothing against Mesut on the contrary and I hope we get to see him much more in the next games because his qualities are without question, but he needs to contribute 24/7 and that’s what Unai expects from him.
"It’s not that he’s not working so well, but there are others who are deserving more playing time, but Unai can’t treat him differently than any other player.
"You may have read that Unai has put a barrier up, but nothing at all like this has happened."
Ozil has not spoken about his diminished role under Emery but is believed to be considering his future at the club, where his £350,000-a-week contract runs until the summer of 2021.
MLS could provide an escape route for the 30-year-old as could Turkish giants Fenerbahce.
Arsenal manager Unai Emery has previously spoken about why the midfielder is not getting any game time.
"I am thinking every time the best players for the match, the best players in the squad to play and help us. When I decided he isn't in the squad it's because I think other players deserve it more," he said ahead of the Bournemouth match.
"What does he have to do? Continue working," he added.
