OZIL 'DIDN'T DESERVE PLACE'
Unai Emery suggested Mesut Ozil did not deserve a place in Arsenal's squad as he sat out Saturday's Premier League defeat at West Ham.
The Gunners' highest-paid player has returned to full training over the last week following a knee problem, but was left out of Emery's travelling party completely as Declan Rice's first senior goal sealed a 1-0 victory for West Ham at the London Stadium.
Ozil has missed a number of games this season, with differing reasons given for his absence. A 2-1 win at Bournemouth in November was the only time Emery conceded the former Germany international was left out for tactical reasons.
"We win with him, we lose with him. I think it is not one player [which means] we can't win or lose. Today the players who were here are the players who deserved to be in this match. We could've won or lost," said Emery.