Arsenal boss Unai Emery insists Mesut Ozil is in his plans.

The manager, having made it clear he does not expect any deal to be concluded ahead of Monday's European transfer deadline, insists that a fully-functioning Ozil is still a major weapon in the Gunners' armoury.

Emery said: “With Mesut Ozil it's the same message to him that I can say to you: We need him – and him firstly to be consistent in training, to be available in each match.

“For example, last week he wasn't ready to play 100 percent at Liverpool . This week he is getting better with each training session and physically he is now better.

“We need him because he is a different player in our team. We have different ways to prepare to win, and different qualities with the players, different characteristics from them. We need him to be available and he can help us with his quality."

Getting the best out of Ozil is rarely straightforward but Emery was philosophical about such a daunting managerial task.

“It's not in my control," he said. “We are speaking a lot with every player, especially with him whether he is not ready to play, if he is sick or if he has a circumstance like he had with Kolasinac.

“We are here only to help him and support him and after to demand that he is ready for training, because we need him in our way this year."