Arsenal

Unai Emery: 'Arsenal will support Mesut Ozil'

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 24 August 2018

Arsenal manager Unai Emery reiterates the club's support of Mesut Ozil after fresh criticism of his form, stemming from his high-profile international retirement.

Arsenal manager Unai Emery has insisted that the club will continue to support midfielder Mesut Ozil amid ongoing criticism regarding his retirement from the German national team.

Ozil announced the end of his international career last month with an explosive statement which accused high-ranking German FA officials of racism following a picture of him alongside controversial Turkish president Recep Erdogan.

The 29-year-old's accusations drew mixed reactions from those inside German football, with many strongly condemning the playmaker, but Emery has reiterated Arsenal's support.

"We are here to help him. We are his family and [the club] is his home. In our careers, as coaches and players, we are going to receive criticism," he told reporters.

"When we do well they are also going to speak about us well. It's a habit for us to have critics.

"But we are professional. We need to live with this. Here [at Arsenal] we need and we want to help him."

Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness has been one of the most outspoken critics of Ozil and launched a fresh attack on the midfielder earlier this week.