Arsenal news: Martin Keown says Mesut Ozil has to prove to Unai Emery ‘that he wants it enough’

Ozil returned from a recurrent back injury in the Europa League against FC Qarabag on Thursday

Martin Keown says the success of Mesut Ozil’s return to the Arsenal squad depends on whether he can prove to Unai Emery that ‘he wants it enough’.

Ozil made his comeback from a recurrent back injury in Arsenal’s drear 1-0 Europa League win over FC Qarabag on Thursday, and impressed against the lower-echelon opposition.

But Keown says that now the 30-year-old must prove to the Arsenal boss that he has the necessary desire to become a mainstay in the starting line-up.

“It’s a chance for Ozil, to see how he is after that back injury,” Keown told BT Sport.

“He needs to show he wants to work hard out of possession as well as the quality in possession, to get back into this team, and he’s shown that.

“Emery has shown it doesn’t matter about the reputation, but Ozil is exciting with his passes, he can switch the play, it’s all there for him, for me its just if he wants it enough.

“He has that ability to change a game but it took him almost five minutes to recover from a bit of a knock and those are the kinds of areas he has to improve.”

Ozil has been linked with a move away from the club in recent weeks, with reports emerging that Arsenal may be willing to accept a cut-price offer from Inter Milan for the German to free-up the club’s wage budget.

Keown also praised the return of Laurent Koscielny, who played 72 minutes his first game for the Gunners since May, after recovering from an injury to his achilles.

Laurent Koscielny returned after a long-term absence with an achilles injury (Reuters)

“Rob Holding is out, Shkodran Mustafi too but Koscielny is not far away now. He’s the club captain and they need him. It’s a relief to get back on the pitch after a serious injury,” Keown said.

“There is light at the end of the tunnel now. It was important for him to prove the surgery was correct and the achilles is strong.

“It’s great news for the manager too. You can be the club captain but he’ll feel more part of it now.’

Koscielny was thrilled to finally make his long-awaited return.

“It was very important for me today, it was the start of a new chapter, I think I am better in my head and physically as well,” he said.

“For me it was to enjoy it with my team-mates. I’ve very happy. It was very important to keep our run going [they are 22 matches unbeaten] and now we start a big challenge for Christmas.

“I took a long time out and you learn a lot about yourself and those around you and like I said today I am very happy and calm with myself. I think I am stronger after missing the pitch, now it is the end of that chapter.”