Andrew Cole has said that it is “really strange” that Mesut Ozil can’t break into the Arsenal team under Unai Emery in the Premier League.
The former Germany international was not in the Gunners’ matchday squad for the side’s 1-0 loss to BATE Borisov in the Europa League on Thursday night, and has only featured in one of the last seven Premier League games.
Cole, who came through the ranks at Arsenal, finds it laughable that their most creative player can’t get into the starting line-up while the team is struggling.
“It’s becoming a bit of a comedy sketch at the moment,” Cole said on Sky Sports programme The Debate.
“We know how talented he is.
“The manager has decided maybe he doesn’t want him in the team, he doesn’t work hard enough or whatever, but sometimes when you have that luxury, I think some of the boys in the team would be prepared to work a little bit harder to get him on the ball to produce that magic.”
The former Manchester United striker says that Emery is not willing to accomodate for Ozil like his predecessor Wenger did, but suggests that he probably should.
“Arsenal over the previous years, when Wenger was there, did that. You’ve got to play your best players when you need them, and Ozil is one of Arsenal’s best.
“If you asked Lacazette and Aubameyang: ‘Do you want Mesut to play?’ they’d say yes all day long, all day long! It’s really, really strange.”