Mesut Ozil has said that Arsenal need to beat Manchester United "for a ton of reasons" as his exile continues.
The German was a major casualty as Mikel Arteta left him out of the Gunners' Premier League squad.
His Arsenal deal runs out at the end of the season and he may have already played his last game for the north Londoners.
Ozil's omission was met with a mixed reception but he barely featured towards the end of last season once football returned from lockdown.
The playmaker has been regularly linked with the Emirates exit door but his mammoth £350,00-a-week wages have been an issue when seeking a potential buyer.
Ozil though has reiterated his desire to see out his contract at Arsenal.
The 32-year-old, again missing for the trip to Old Trafford on Sunday, took to social media pre-game to declare: "Almost time for the big game #MUNARS We need this win for a ton of reasons today. I'm optimistic the boys can take away all 3 points - C O Y G".
Ozil's creative flair has never been in doubt but long been outweighed by his inability to produce consistently.
Plenty also feel as if his work rate does not cohere with the type of effort Arteta demands from his team.
The Spaniard, who cut his managerial teeth as assistant to Pep Guardiola, has made a conscious effort to change the culture at Arsenal both on and off the pitch.
And he has defended his decision to cast Ozil out claiming he was given ample opportunity to stake his case.
He told Sky Sports: "What I can tell you (is) that I tried my best, I tried to give him as many opportunities as I could.
"And that from my own side, I've been patient, given him opportunities and been fair.
"He's a player that belongs to a football club, he's been a really important player in the last few seasons. I have to respect that, I'm here to make decisions, the best decisions for the team and for the club."
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