The Gunners boss Emery is expecting a lot more from the German maestro this season.
Arsenal boss Unai Emery has told Mesut Ozil that he is entering a new phase in his career and, ahead of his 30th birthday next month, challenged the German playmaker to “do more” and raise his performances.
With Ozil having retired from international football, Emery has had a prolonged opportunity to work with his highest-profile and best-paid player over this past fortnight and is adamant that they do have a strong relationship.
The dynamic between them was questioned when Ozil was substituted after 68 minutes of the defeat against Chelsea and then missed the following match against West Ham United after falling ill.
It was the seventh time since the start of 2017 that Ozil had missed a match through illness and, should he feature on Saturday against Newcastle United, it will be the first time he has played at St James’ Park.
“For me, it is a new moment,” said Emery. “That’s the same for Mesut. He is working well. I want to push them – I want to be demanding. I look at him with the focus totally here.
“I have a very good relationship with Mesut and, professionally, I push him for improvements to give us the best in his qualities and performances. He is feeling like I am feeling: He can improve, he can do more.”
Ozil, says Emery, also has no issues with playing on the right of a front three in what has been a 4-3-3 system, rather than the No 10 role he largely fulfilled under Arsene Wenger’s preferred 4-2-3-1.
“In his career he played like a ‘10’ and on the right coming in with his quality,” said Emery. “Here he has played both. He is very convinced about that in my conversations with him. I usually give players the position they feel the best – Mesut is these two positions.”
