Unai Emery has laid down the gauntlet for Mesut Ozil to revive his Arsenal career after revealing that the playmaker does not currently deserve to play for the Gunners.
Ozil has slipped down the pecking order since Emery's arrival in the summer of 2018, despite being the club's highest-paid player and one of the most marketable players on the planet.
The former Germany international has had issues with injury and illness this season, but has started just two games in the 2019/20 campaign for the Gunners - and was left out of Emery's 18-man matchday squad altogether for both Monday's Premier League draw at Manchester United and Thursday's 4-0 Europa League win against Standard Liege.
Ozil is a big fan of London life, which could potentially complicate any plans Arsenal have of trying to move on the 30-year-old in the January transfer window - and his £350,000-a-week wages combined with his age mean a loan is more likely than an outright sale.
Speaking after the win over Standard, Emery made it clear in no uncertain terms that Ozil is not working at his desired level, and has warned the World Cup winner that he must up his work rate if he is to win back a place in his matchday squad with the likes of Joe Willock continuing to impress.
Asked about why he dropped Ozil, Emery told reporters: "I am thinking every time to decide the best players for each match and the best players in the squad to play and to help us.
"When I decided he shouldn't be in the squad it's because I think other players deserved it more.
"He needs to continue working. Tomorrow we have training with the players who didn't play, and on Sunday we have another match, and we are going to decide the same.
In Pictures | Arsenal vs Standard Liege | 03/10/2019
In Pictures | Arsenal vs Standard Liege | 03/10/2019
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"Our target is to win on Sunday against Bournemouth, and we want to carry on our same way in each match."
