Arsenal manager Unai Emery has given an update regarding whether Mesut Ozil is in his place for the Carabao Cup clash against Liverpool on Wednesday.
Emery confirmed that the playmaker of Turkish origin will feature against the Reds.
The Gunners head coach has come under mounting pressure from sections of the media and fans for his decision to leave Ozil out of the squad for the past few games.
The 31-year-old has made just two appearances in all competitions this season, last featured in the third-round of the cup against Nottingham Forrest.
Emery revealed that he had talks with Ozil at the club’s training ground on Tuesday before making his decision to include the playmaker in the squad for the Anfield trip.
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“That conversation this morning was because I wanted to listen about how he was thinking now to help us tomorrow,” Emery said at his pre-match press conference.
“It was a very good conversation. Tomorrow he is in the group.
“We need his quality, his skill. We need his consistency. We need his positive mentality. Then we need him to help us on the pitch.
“I want now like in the pre-season, like a month ago, for him to help us on the pitch.”
Several first-team regulars such as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, David Luiz, Calum Chambers and Granit Xhaka will not travel to Liverpool meaning that Ozil could be the most senior player available for the north London based outfit.
Ozil could even captain the side versus Liverpool according to Emery.
When asked whether the playmaker could potentially captain the side, Emery responded: “It depends. He could be yes.”