Arsenal team news: Mesut Ozil named captain for Burnley clash despite transfer reports

Ozil was left out of Arsenal's last game for ‘tactical reasons’

Mesut Ozil will captain Arsenal today against Burnley in the Premier League just days after it was revealed that the club are willing to listen to offers for the German playmaker.

Ozil wanted to play as a ‘number ten’ but Unai Emery is looking for a more aggressive presser and left him out of Wednesday’s 2-0 defeat against Tottenham Hotspurs for ‘tactical reasons’.

The German has failed to establish a regular place in the first team and Arsenal are willing to let him leave, but will struggle to find a permanent club for him given he signed a £300,000 a week contract extension at the end of last season.

Few clubs are willing to pay him that kind of money and a loan deal is thought to be the best way for Arsenal to move him on.

Emery said he is expecting a big performance from all his players and will look to Ozil’s intelligence to help unlock Burnley’s deep defence.

“I hope for a performance from all the players. Today is important to get three points, I think we can’t hold out the quality in our home. We need every player, like Mesut,” he said.

“They have attacking players, we need to respond in all minutes and also all the situations tactical with and without the ball, with the respect we want to play an open game with our quality.

“This is a difficult match and very important for us.

“Use the players with their intelligence and with their quality and combination, but it’s not easy we know it’s very difficult for us. I want to learn to play under pressure because three points is very important for us.”

Mohamed Elneny is named for the first time in the league by Emery and the Arsenal manager says it is a reward for his performance in the Carabao Cup in midweek.

“He was working well and he played well in the Carabao Cup, he has experience,” said Emery. “Today I am looking for him to playing a big match and help us to win.”

Arsenal team to play Burnley: Leno, Maitland-Niles, Papastathopoulos, Monreal, Kolasinac, Guendouzi, Elneny, Xhaka, Ozil, Lacazette, Aubameyang. Subs: Cech, Ramsey, Torreira, Lichtsteiner, Iwobi, Nketiah, Saka.

Burnley team to play Arsenal: Hart, Bardsley, Long, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor, Westwood, Cork, endrick, Barnes, Wood. Subs: Heaton, Lowton, Vokes, Gibson, Vydra, McNeil, Koiki.

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