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Arsenal news: Gary Neville delivers Mesut Ozil revelation over Tottenham clash
MESUT OZIL could not have played against Tottenham in the north London derby.
That is the opinion of Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville.
Ozil was left out of the Arsenal squad that beat Tottenham 4-2 on Sunday.
The club released a statement which confirmed the German would miss the match due to picking up a back spasm.
Unai Emery’s pre-match comments - which stated that he “didn’t know” how Ozil picked up the problem or if he was at the ground to watch the match - have ignited speculation of a supposed fallout.
And according to Gary Neville, Ozil could not have played in the match even if he had been fit.
“He couldn’t play in that game, that’s with great respect,” he said on the Gary Neville podcast.
“He has played in World Cup finals and can win them.
“But the way in which Unai Emery wants to approach that game, he couldn’t have played Mesut Ozil.
Arsenal: Pundits speculate why Ozil missed Tottenham clash
“That’s just the harsh truth, he is world class on the ball, the way that he receives the ball, his choice of pass in the final third.
“What Unai Emery wants to establish in this club is a cultural change. A mentality shift and he doesn’t fit the bill, that’s just being harsh.
“If that’s the way Unai Emery wants to play, from the back with high energy and pace.
“There’s no excuse for not doing that actually, Mesut Ozil couldn’t press like this Arsenal players, it’s not his game and not what he does.
“The whole body language of the club has changed today [Sunday].”
Arsenal originally took the lead through Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang before Eric Dier and Harry Kane put Spurs in front.
But second-half goals from Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette and Lucas Torreira gave the Gunners an afternoon to remember.
Arsenal leapfrogged Spurs into fourth place in the table and also claimed the north London bragging rights.