Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta lays down law to Mesut Ozil to prevent another false dawn from German star

MIKEL ARTETA laid down the law to Mesut Ozil in a bid to prevent another false dawn from Arsenal’s most enigmatic player.

Ozil’s industry and work-rate has been the biggest shock so far in Arteta’s two games in charge  at  the Emirates.

But the new boss said: “I put Mesut in the team if I see every day that his attitude, desire and understanding of what we’re trying to do is there.

“If he has the will and if he is in a better moment than somebody else, I will pick him.

“But the moment this changes, he won’t play.”

ARSENAL NEWS LIVE: Follow for all the latest on the Gunners

The former German ace was given a standing ovation after running himself into the ground during Sunday’s hard-fought 2-1 defeat to visiting Chelsea.

Arteta and Ozil were Arsenal team-mates before the Spaniard retired in 2016.

And the new Gunners chief is convinced the former Real Madrid playmaker can make a huge contribution as he tries to pull his team out of their current nosedive.

He added: “I haven’t been surprised by Mesut’s performances because I know him well and his ability.

“But the structure has to be there to help him bring out everything he has inside.

“He can’t do it all on his own. Nowadays, there are only two or three players in the world who can do that.

“I try to prepare the team with the strengths and weaknesses we have in mind. In these kind of positions Mesut can be very effective.

“Now I am hoping that he can sustain this level every three or four days and he’s putting in everything he has to try to do that.

“His physical numbers have improved so much and he’s willing every day in training.”

DEFENSIVE CRISIS

With Arsenal just six points clear of the relegation zone after a run of one win in 15 games, Arteta knows there can be no room for passengers against old rivals Manchester United.

But the Arsenal boss faces a defensive crisis, with Calum Chambers joining Sokratis, Rob Holding, Hector Bellerin, Kieran Tierney and Sead Kolasinac on the sidelines.

Arteta admits conceding two goals in the final seven minutes on Sunday was a bitter blow to morale.

He said: “They were physically blown and disappointed in how the game ended. They don’t feel they deserved that. But we have a big game against Manchester United and we have to respond to this challenge.

“I was very pleased and grateful with how the fans responded to the team against Chelsea.

“They generated an atmosphere and a connection with the players that hasn’t been there for a long time.  But now we have to give them more and convince them that this is how we want to play.

“We need to be very wary of Manchester United’s threat on the counter-attack.

“They can punish us. But the other option is to defend all the time and we don’t want that.
“Every game is a must-win for us. We are the Arsenal and the demands are that against any opponent we have to win.”