Unai Emery has confirmed Arsenal outcast Mesut Ozil will feature against Liverpool in Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup clash.
Ozil has played just twice in all competitions this season, with his last appearance coming in the third-round thrashing of Nottingham Forest.
Emery held talks with the German at the club’s training ground on Tuesday before deciding whether to include him for the trip to Anfield.
“That conversation this morning was because I wanted to listen about how he was thinking now to help us tomorrow,” the Arsenal boss said at his pre-match press conference.
“It was a very good conversation. Tomorrow he is in the group.
“We need his quality, his skill. We need his consistency. We need his positive mentality. Then we need him to help us on the pitch.
“I want now like in the pre-season, like a month ago, for him to help us on the pitch.”
A string of first-team stars including Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, David Luiz, Calum Chambers and Granit Xhaka will not travel to Anfield.
As a result, Ozil is likely to be the most senior player on show for Arsenal.
When asked whether Ozil could captain the team, Emery replied: “It depends. He could be yes.”
The pressure is building on Emery after a mixed start to the season took a turn for the worse on Sunday.
Crystal Palace fought back from two goals behind to earn a point at the Emirates Stadium but the game was overshadowed by Xhaka telling the home fans ‘f*** off’ when he was replaced on the hour mark.
When asked about Xhaka, Emery said: “It’s not easy for him and for the team. He is now devastated, sad. We spoke yesterday and Sunday night and this morning.
“He trained normally with the group but he is devastated. He is sad about that situation.
“His commitment is great every time. He wants to help. His behaviour was perfect in training, with the group and club. Really he knows he was wrong.
“He feels inside, very deep. It’s normal as a human. Every player needs the supporters’ support.”
