Mesut Ozil urges Arsenal to ‘stand together’ amid Xhaka row as outcast gets set for rare appearance vs Liverpool
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ARSENAL outcast Mesut Ozil has urged fans and players to "stand together as one" as he gears up for his first start in over a month.
The 31-year-old is poised to be named in the starting XI for the Carabao Cup clash against Liverpool tonight.
Gunners boss Unai Emery has even hinted he could name the German as CAPTAIN for the trip to Anfield.
On the morning of the game, Ozil shared a photo of him training on his Instagram account, and added an ultra-positive caption.
It read: "Big game ahead. No matter what - the only way is standing together as one."
The message could relate to his own personal situation at the Emirates - Ozil has featured in only TWO games all season.
71 IS THE MAGIC NUMBER
And in both of those, in the Premier League at Watford and the Carabao Cup against Nottingham Forest, he was subbed off on 71 minutes.
But it could, and probably is, more a reference to the fall-out following Granit Xhaka's X-rated outburst at his own fans in the 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace.
The Swiss international was dropped from the squad for the Liverpool clash and it has since been revealed he has been offered counselling from the club.
Xhaka, 27, told fuming Arsenal fans to "f*** off" as he was subbed off on Sunday.
Asked about keeping Xhaka on as captain, Emery, who confirmed it was always part of his plan to drop the Swiss midfielder, said: "First we recover him as a human.
"It is not easy for him and for the team. He is now devastated, sad. We spoke yesterday and Sunday night and this morning.
"He trained normally with the group but he is devastated. He is sad about the situation.
"His commitment is great every time. He wants to help. His behaviour was perfect in training, with the group and club.
"He knows he was wrong and he feels inside, very deep.
"It's normal as a human. Every player needs the supporters' support."
Things could be looking up, however, for Ozil as he comes in from the cold.
At a press conference, Emery revealed he had held talks with the out-of-favour midfielder.
Emery said: "That conversation this morning was because I wanted to listen about how he was thinking now to help us tomorrow.
"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.
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“I want now like in the pre-season, like a month ago, for him to help us on the pitch.”
The gaffer was then asked, with Xhaka not part of the party, whether Ozil could get the armband.
The Spaniard replied: "It depends. He could be yes.”
