Since the arrival of Unai Emery at the Emirates stadium Mesut Ozil has failed to give a top notch performance in a game, ahead of their clash with Newcastle United this weekend Unai Emery says he’s working hard to get the best out of Mesut Ozil and insists the player agrees that he has more to give.
In the 109 minutes that the German has played this season, he’s yet to make an assist. According to the Premier League’s data, and somewhat more surprising, he’s not yet created a big chance for his teammates or even made a successful through ball.
For a player who has 50 assists to his name in the league since signing from Real Madrid five years ago, it’s something of a concern. On the plus side, Emery is sure he can fix things.
Ahead of Saturday’s match with Newcastle, the Spaniard explained: “The reason we are working is to prepare each match with our players to have the possibility to arrive in Newcastle in the best condition for every player.
“That’s the same for Mesut. He working well. He is OK. I want to push them, I want to be demanding to prepare this match – Mesut the same.
“I want to find with him the possibility to do the best, to make decisive passes, to do more near and in the box to score. Also I think he is working for the team to help us with his quality.
“But he is feeling like I am feeling. He can improve, he can do more. In this process, we will work, we will help him, give him the possibility on the pitch to be together, to find his qualities for us.”
Emery also seemed to suggest that he’ll continue to deploy Ozil on the right of his attack, although he knows the player also thrives in a central position behind the strikers.
“In his career Mesut played like a 10 and on the right, coming inside with his quality,” he added.
“Here he has played both. He is very convinced about that in my conversations with him about it. I usually give players the position they feel the best. Mesut is in these two positions.”
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