Emery speaks out on Mesut Ozil’s future at the club and provides an injury update: Press Conference

Arsenal’s 22 game unbeaten run came to an end against Southampton last weekend and they will be looking to get back on the winning ways with a win over Burnley this weekend. Ahead of the Saturday’s game, Arsenal manager Unai Emery has spoken out to the game. Here is full transcript of the press conference. On whether Mesut will be in tomorrow’s squad Yes. On whether it really was a tactical decision in midweek Yes. On whether he likes Mesut and wants him to play I want every player with a good mentality to help us and give us their characteristics and quality. We need Mesut Ozil. On whether he has a future here Yes, why not? Emery on the festive period It’s the first experience for me here at Christmas, working and playing. I like my work, I want to enjoy playing and winning. But we have time also to be with our family. And we can meet everyone at the Emirates Stadium. Emery on his team responding Each match is very important. After our defeat at Southampton, we need the three points.I am happy with the players. At the Emirates we are strong. Against Tottenham, the players pushed and created chances. I trust in my players and my strikers. Tomorrow we need our supporters to help us. Emery on Burnley We have big respect for them. They are a good team, with good players. Defensively they are very hard and can play with a lot of long balls, a lot of crosses, to create chances to score. Emery on team news Mkhitaryan is out, Koscielny is OK but has played two matches this week, tomorrow is a lot for him. We need to be calm with him. Kolasinac I think is OK. Mustafi is out also. On Xhaka playing at centre-back I read a little criticism for our midfielders like Xhaka playing centre back, but I am very happy with him because his mentality is a very big mentality. He helped us, and he played left back too sometimes and I think he played well. This reason, for me, is that I trust in another player and tomorrow we are going to play with the first 11 and other players in the bench with our performance. Above all, I think the mentality is a very big mentality to help us. We have the players and they are playing out of position, like Xhaka and Lichtsteiner last week at Southampton. On the plans for Christmas Day We are going to adapt to this Christmas working because last year I had 10 days for holiday and in Spain, it’s seven days usually, but I think the players here have the habit to work. We are going to have Sunday off, then Monday and Tuesday will be prepared for Brighton. We are going to travel on Wednesday morning and they can have the day Tuesday with their family for lunch. Emery on the recent issues with fan behaviour Usually here in England, respect is a very important issue for everybody. It’s not good behaviour in this very individual situation and moment. I think everybody has respect for all. On how frustrated Ozil has been to miss games Every player wants to play and be okay to help the team when we need. The frustration is the same for everybody when they didn’t play in a match. But I spoke with him and with the regularity in the season, I am telling him what we need from him and he has the commitment to help us and the quality and the characteristics to help us when the team needs his moments in the pitch in one game. Tomorrow he is in the 18 players, in the squad.

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