Arsenal chief Raul Sanllehi has backed Unai Emery over his decision to axe Mesut Ozil from the Gunners’ recent squads amid rumours he could be sold in January.
The German – who is the highest earner at the Emirates – has only played once in the Premier League this season, while he also turned out in the Carabao Cup demolition of Nottingham Forest.
He was on the bench against Aston Villa towards the end of September but was omitted from the matchday squad entirely for subsequent matches against Manchester United and Bournemouth.
There have been reports that Ozil has failed to impress Emery in training, while the manager himself has made it clear that other players ‘deserve it more’ to be in the squad.
Head of Football Sanllehi was at a fan’s forum event on Thursday evening and was asked about the current situation surrounding Ozil and his continued absence from both the starting XI and even the matchday squad.
Speaking to supporters, he said: ‘Unai’s policy has always been to play the ones that work hard in training.’
Sanllehi’s blunt response appeared to back up suggestions that Ozil has not been giving his all in training, while speculation is mounting that the 30-year-old will be offloaded when the window re-opens.
Ozil’s work rate, both in training and matches, is troubling to Emery, but finding a buyer for a player on £350,000-a-week is set to prove a major stumbling block to any transfer.
Raul on Özil : “Unai’s policy has always been to play the ones that work hard in training”
— REDaction Gooners (@REDactionAFC) October 10, 2019
Arsenal are reportedly even prepared to pay part of Ozil’s wages in order to help secure a move elsewhere.
Speaking about his decision not to pick Ozil against Standard Liege, Emery said: ‘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.’
