Arsenal manager Unai Emery has backed midfielder Mesut Ozil to have a ‘big season’ with the Gunners following a frustrated summer for him at the international stage.
Ozil recently announced his retirement from national team duty citing racism and disrespect as the prime reasons and he has since joined up with his Gunners’ teammates for the pre-season tour of Singapore.
Speaking ahead of International Champions Cup game versus Atletico Madrid, Emery said that he respects the midfielder’s decision to call time on his national team career and the club will do their best to help him through the difficult period.
The Spaniard added to praise the 29-year-old for his qualities on the playing field and feels the midfielder will have a game-changing influence during the first season post the Arsene Wenger era.
“He has experience, he has quality and he has a great mentality and we are going to help him feel good and to show his quality with us. ‘I am sure he is going to have a big season with us,” he is quoted as saying by BBC Sport.
The £350,000-a-week star has only recently linked up with his teammates for pre-season training and judging by this, he may earn just a minor role during the upcoming fixture against Atleti.
Nevertheless, there are exciting times ahead for the current squad with new signings likely to lay their mark on how the club’s season paves next term.
Four of Arsenal’s five summer signings have reported for the pre-season tour of Singapore with Lucas Torreira the only player absent. The Uruguayan is expected to join his new teammates shortly after their return from the Far East.
