As the Granit Xhaka controversy rages on, Arsenal's Mesut Ozil took to Instagram and called for unity among the Gunners supporters. The German playmaker will make the squad, as confirmed by Unai Emery, that will face Liverpool, and the likelihood is strong he'd be temp skipper in the absence of the team captain.
The IG post from the Arsenal midfielder indicated he'd be playing against the Reds, which is a turnaround following the snub by Emery that saw Ozil appearing in only two matches this season.
"Big game ahead. No matter what - the only way is standing together as one," Ozil was reported by The Daily Mirror as saying.
It was clear too that in the statement, he was alluding to the issue hounding Xhaka. The team captain generated a furor when he hurled invectives at Arsenal fans that booed him when replaced by Emery during the Sunday tussle with Crystal Palace.
There were also calls on Emery to ax Xhaka as captain, while others have suggested that the Swiss should be booted out of the club.
Ozil, for his part, is asking for unity in light of the debacle. While not ignoring Xhaka's case, the German will want to focus on what would be his only third game of the season.
He was right to declare that the battle against Liverpool is crucial. Should he impress, Ozil will prove wrong the earlier assertions from the Gunners boss that he does not deserve a place in the Arsenal first-team despite being the club's highest-paid member.
As mentioned, Emery has announced earlier that Ozil is with Arsenal when the club travels to Anfield, "so he has a chance to play."
Speaking to media, the Gunners boss revealed he had a chat with the playmaker and described the conversation as both of them coming clean. Emery said he reiterated his position on Ozil, and the latter did the same.
"Our conversation this morning was because I wanted to listen to him about how he's thinking now to help us and be with us tomorrow. Then if we are in the same spirit and the same idea, to play. It was a very good conversation and tomorrow he's in the group," Metro reported Emery as saying.
The team manager admitted too that Arsenal would benefit from Ozil's skills and quality as a player, underscoring that "we need his positive mentality and then he will help us on the pitch."
When asked if Ozil can be captain against Liverpool since Xhaka will be sidelined for the match, Emery noted that the German is not next in line but allowed that he can play the role temporarily vacated by the team skipper.
"It depends. He could be, yes," the Spaniard said.
