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Emery admits Ozil is ‘in the group’ to face Liverpool and could even captain Arsenal

Unai Emery has admitted that Mesut Ozil is in line to captain Arsenal for their Carabao Cup tie against Liverpool, with the midfielder set to be in contention for a recall.

During his time in the Premier League, Ozil has been one of the most creative players in the division, scoring 32 goals and providing 52 assists in 167 top-flight outings, though has found opportunities limited since the arrival of Unai Emery in 2018.

The former Germany international has made just two appearances for Arsenal this season, his last outing for the Gunners coming in the Carabao Cup third-round win over Nottingham Forest at the end of September.

Speculation has suggested that there has been a complete breakdown in the relationship between Emery and the divisive 31-year-old, who hasn’t been included in any of the last six matchday squads by the Spaniard.

However, with the North London club struggling for form in recent weeks, Ozil looks set to be offered a chance of redemption, with Emery confirming that the club’s top earner will be ‘in the group’ for Wednesday’s trip to Anfield following a ‘conversation’ between the pair.

“That conversation this morning was because I wanted to listen about how he was thinking now to help us tomorrow,” said Emery at his pre-match press conference. “It was a very good conversation. Tomorrow he is in the group.

“We need his quality, his skill. We need his consistency. We need his positive mentality. Then we need him to help us on the pitch.

“I want now like in the pre-season, like a month ago, for him to help us on the pitch.”

There has been plenty of chatter about the fate of club captain Granit Xhaka, who appeared to tell Arsenal fans to ‘f**k off’ after they booed him at the weekend, and when asked if Ozil could wear the armband in the absence of the Swiss international, Emery surprisingly added: “It depends. He could be yes.”

Read: Liverpool provide injury update on Salah, Matip and Shaqiri ahead of Arsenal tie

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