Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-0 at the Emirates in the London derby on Saturday to close the gap with the Blues to just three points in the Premier League table.

Mesut Ozil was once again left out of head coach Unai Emery’s starting line-up.

Emery included Ozil in the matchday squad but did not give him playing time despite recovering from a knee injury.

There have been rumors that the Spanish manager wants to freeze Ozil out and while he did admit that the playmaker of Turkish origin was match fit he also said he has a future at the club.

Ozil has not started or played for the Gunners since Boxing Day, when he was substituted at half-time against Brighton.

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Emery had the following the say after the game: “Today he was OK to play but we decided not to play him. I spoke with him. I wanted him to be ready for the match today and for the next matches with the spirit like all the players in the team.

“Today I have the confidence with him if he played. I think he could do like we wanted. The next matches we are going to need every player and also his quality.”

Arsenal take on Manchester United next on Friday in the FA Cup 4th Round, it remains to be seen whether Emery will give Ozil playing time.

Ozil is the highest paid player in the Gunners squad earning £350,000-a-week and signed a contract extension last January keeping him at the club until 2021.