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Attendance: 32,316

Premier League | Gameweek 4

Sep 2, 2018 at 1.30pm UK

Cardiff Cardiff City
2-3
Arsenal

Camarasa (45'), Ward (70')

FT(HT: 1-1)

Mustafi (11'), Aubameyang (62'), Lacazette (81')

Unai Emery: 'Mesut Ozil is a very important player for Arsenal'

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 01 September 2018

Emery: 'Ozil is a very important player'

Arsenal manager Unai Emery reiterates that he has not fallen out with Mesut Ozil and insists that the German remains a "very important player" for the club.

Arsenal manager Unai Emery has insisted that Mesut Ozil remains a "very important player" for the club amid speculation of a fallout between the two.

Ozil missed last weekend's 3-1 victory over West Ham United with illness, although after the match Emery was forced to deny reports of a rift with the German playmaker following rumours of a training ground bust-up.

Emery has now reiterated that there is no problem with Ozil, insisting that the 29-year-old is fully committed to the club.

"Throughout my career I have respect for the media, for newspaper, radio, TV, but there are a lot of people in the media and at not every moment is the information real. It isn't true the news. It's easy for me to say it's not true, our one is true, and I need to be quiet or say it," the Spaniard told Sky Sports News.

"For me that is one thing; I don't stop during my career for everything that the news says about me or the players. But in this situation with Mesut Ozil it is clear, he is OK, he has the commitment we want, he is a very important player for us and we want to help him to give us the best performance in each match and each moment.

"The commitment is very good from each player and for that I am happy. There are positive things from the three matches and we are going to continue that, and also improve on the bad things. The players open their minds to watch the good things but also see the bad things and the mistakes and how we can improve.

"We need each match to continue what we are doing and to demand a high level. You have chances every match to show you are improving. Our attacking moment is good. Against Chelsea and West Ham we had many chances, but we need to work on the balance. To be more competitive we want to be organised with and without the ball. I don't want to lose our attacking spirit, but if we need to get more balance we are going to work, and on Sunday I want to show we are better in this situation."

Ozil has now recovered from his illness and is expected to be in the squad to face Cardiff City on Sunday.