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Mesut Ozil has responded to Unai Emery and Raul Sanhelli’s claims that he doesn’t work hard enough in training.
Head of football Sanllehi recently criticised the German’s efforts in training and Emery said Arsenal yougnsters “deserved their spot more” than the 31 year-old.
The World Cup winner has not even made the matchday squad in the last three fixtures and Ozil says he feels “helpless” on the bench, but insists he is putting the hard graft in.
In an exclusive interview with The Athletic, Ozil said: “Not being involved, watching from home, makes me feel helpless.
Ozil has rarely featured for Arsenal this season
The Gunners travel to Sheffield United on Monday for the first of seven matches in the space of three weeks.
“I want to be part of the side, I want to support my team-mates to succeed.
“I’m not training all the time just for the sake of it, I’m ready to play.
“This should not be about me or the coach, only the club. I have to give everything, be fit and focused, and I’m training hard to be ready.
“Pre-season went very well and although things were disrupted by the [moped] attack, since then I’ve been fully available and when the coach has selected me I’ve been ready, played and always tried to give my best.
“I’ve trained at the same level my whole career but because I’ve not had minutes recently, I’m doing extra work with the fitness coach and in the gym to get even fitter than normal.
“I know what is needed and believe in myself.”
Mesut Ozil and Unai Emery reportedly do not get on
“I want to be part of the side, I want to support my team-mates to succeed.
“I’m not training all the time just for the sake of it, I’m ready to play.
“This should not be about me or the coach, only the club. I have to give everything, be fit and focused, and I’m training hard to be ready.
“Pre-season went very well and although things were disrupted by the [moped] attack, since then I’ve been fully available and when the coach has selected me I’ve been ready, played and always tried to give my best.
“I’ve trained at the same level my whole career but because I’ve not had minutes recently, I’m doing extra work with the fitness coach and in the gym to get even fitter than normal.
“I know what is needed and believe in myself.”
In the same interview, Ozil says he is keen to remain at The Emirates beyond this season.
Kolasinac fends off attackers outside Ozil’s £3m home in August
Ozil said placing all the blame on his shoulders is “ridiculous”.
He added: “If that was true, why did I work so hard and positively during pre-season this year?
“And why, after the World Cup last year, did I return from holiday early for the first time in my career to start training three days before I was expected back?
“I did it for the new coach, the team and the club.
“Maybe people don’t like that I have a good contract? I don’t know or care.
“It always happens that an ex-player stands there on TV and criticises me.
“Others just continue the theme and it gets in everyone’s heads.
“If we don’t do well in a ‘big’ game, it’s always my fault.
“If we don’t do well in a ‘big’ game, it’s always my fault. If that’s true, how do you explain our results in the ‘big’ games when I wasn’t involved?
“I also get really frustrated when I miss a game through illness and people question if it is genuine.
“Yes, it happened a few times — usually in the winter — but what am I supposed to do?
“If you knew me, you would know it takes a lot for me to miss a game and I have never used sickness as an excuse.
“Actually the opposite. I played many games when I was ill or had injuries.
Gooners, would you like to see Ozil in the team? Let us know in the comments…
