Mikel Arteta tells Ozil to improve if he wants to make the starting line-up.

Mikel Arteta tells Ozil to improve if he wants to make the starting line-up.

Mikel Arteta has warned Mesut Ozil to improve in his game if he hopes to don the Arsenal jersey again following shock 3-0 loss to Manchester City.

The Arsenal boss is not happy with the German play-maker who was not even listed among substitutes for the match at the Etihad. It was gathered that Ozil was surprised to be left out of the squad for Wednesday’s cracker as the boss claimed he had not done enough in training to earn a shirt.

Arteta said: “I have been very open with Mesut from day one and since I joined the club. I thought he was fit, willing and wanted to perform at the level he can.

“The moment I see he’s ready to do that again I will treat him like anybody else. I am the first one that wants Mesut at his best and I am going to put him on the pitch when I think he can give me that.” Ozil took to social media on Thursday, June 18, to make his feelings known after being left out of the matchday squad against Manchester City a day earlier.

Fans were left to speculate why Ozil, who is the club’s highest earner on a £350,000 per week deal, would be left out of such a crucial game on the return of Premier League football. However, Ozil was in assuring mood on Thursday as he went on Instagram to pledge his loyalty to Arsenal, amid speculation over his future. While sharing a photo holding the Arsenal badge, Ozil wrote, “No matter what.”