Mesut Ozil is keen to remain an Arsenal player, according to respected journalist Raphael Honigstein.
The German’s future has been constantly talked about in recent weeks, with a January exit mooted.
It now looks as though he will stay at the club, however, despite rumours that Unai Emery will not use him too regularly.
Speaking on the Transfer Talk podcast, Honigstein says Ozil wants to play for the Gunners and has challenged Emery to “play his hand”:
I think it’s too early to say that his time at Arsenal is coming to an end.
It’s obvious that he’s not quite in the plans for all the games as far as Unai Emery is concerned but it’s down to him to change Emery’s mind.
If Arsenal had lost 5-1 with Mesut Ozil on the pitch at Anfield, it would have been easy to point the finger at him.
I still think there’s a confidence and a hope that Emery’s thinking might change as far as Ozil’s thinking is concerned.
He only signed a new deal in January and I don’t think he will change his mind or reconsider his options.
He wants to play for Arsenal – that’s as far as I understand it – now it’s up to Emery to play his hand.
Ozil is currently out injured but he may be fit to feature in Saturday’s trip to Blackpool in the FA Cup third round.
It is going to be interesting to see how the next chapter in the 30-year-old’s Arsenal career plays out, assuming he stays this month.
