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Unai Emery explains Mesut Ozil omission


Unai Emery says others "deserved" a place in Arsenal's team over Mesut Ozil after his young side beat Standard Liege in the Europa League on Thursday.

Ozil, the highest-paid player in the history of the club, was again left out of the matchday squad as Gabriel Martinelli scored twice in a 4-0 Group F victory. Emery made 10 alterations from the side that drew at Manchester United on Monday night with Ozil, who has made just one Premier League appearance this season, not making the matchday squad on either occasion.

The German player wasn't named even as a substitute at Old Trafford either. When asked about Ozil's omission, Emery said: "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.

"Our target is to win on Sunday against Bournemouth, and we want to carry on our same way in each match."

On a positive night for the Gunners, Rob Holding, Kieran Tierney and Hector Bellerin - who captained the side - all came through 90 minutes as they continued their comebacks from injury.

Martinelli, who scored two goals on his full debut in the Carabao Cup win over Nottingham Forest last week, followed it up with another double here and Emery has been impressed by his start to life in England.

"I saw him in pre-season and he was working and in each training showing us his hunger," added Emery.

"In pre-season he was perfect all the time with us in training, and I spoke to him to be calm because when he arrived with an opportunity to play like tonight, if he continues with this hunger then I think he will do well. Tonight confirmed
that.

"The first thing in his mind is to help us and receive some minutes with us in the team. Tonight I think his performance and attitude was amazing."

Arsenal returns to Premier League action at home to Bournemouth on Sunday. 

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