Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil has declared himself ‘ready’ as the Gunners prepare to face new Premier League champions Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night.
Ozil has been sidelined by a back problem in recent weeks and has not played at all since the season resumed in June. He was an unused substitute in games against Brighton and Southampton but has not made the bench for any of Arsenal’s last five outings in all competitions.
Ozil has not played for Arsenal since the season resumed/Robin Jones/Getty Images
Ozil now enters the final year of the controversially lucrative Arsenal contract he signed in 2018 and his future at the club beyond, especially as manager Mikel Arteta looks for a new squad to move forward. Planning the vision, there is a lot of skepticism.
Even when he has played this season, the 31-year-old’s performances have been disappointing, with just one goal and two assists in 18 Premier League appearances.
But taking to Twitter 24 hours before kick-off against Liverpool, Ozil had a clear message for both his manager and Arsenal fans: “I’m ready.”
IAM READY ⚽? #M1Ö #YaGunnersYa #teamtraining pic.twitter.com/uVbrjwQjJF
— Mesut Özil (@MesutOzil1088) July 14, 2020
Asked about Ozil earlier in the day, Arteta gave a short and noncommittal answer about the player’s fitness and availability.
“The situation with Mesut is still the same. I don’t know [if he’ll play again this season]. At present the situation is as it is. We will see if that changes,” he said.
At the start of July, Arteta explained that anyone who wanted to play for Arsenal had to be ‘100 per cent committed to our culture’, adding that anyone who wanted to ‘jump on board’ was welcome. Is.
The debate among fans and pundits is whether Ozil fits in.
Ozil last played for Arsenal in March with a back problem / Let’s not – Dean House/Getty Images
“Players who are ready to help each other, fight for each other and enjoy playing together. That’s what I mean by being in the boat,” Arteta explained.
“If you behave like this every day you are very welcome here and we want to get the best out of you and help you enjoy your profession with us.”
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