Souness urges Arsenal boss Arteta to reject Ozil recall push

Liverpool legend, Graeme Souness has said Arsenal boss, Mikel Arteta should not recall Mesut Ozil to his squad next month.

Souness said restoring Ozil to the side would be a backward step — and swing the balance of power firmly in the player’s favour.

He explained: “If you bring him back in now, he’s coming back on his terms.

“I would imagine the manager spoke to the directors about the situation when they left him out at the start of the season.

“And they’ve obviously given the green light to leave him out. They have shown trust in their manager.

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“It was a big decision — ‘I’m going to park him up’.

“Without a shadow of a doubt people will be questioning that decision now.

“So do they bring him back? It would be difficult for him to do it and save face.

“You’ve got a guy involved in his very first job in management — and this would be a difficult job for an experienced manager.

“I’m not sure I’d bring him back if I was in that position.

“It diminishes his credibility with some of the players in that dressing room, and they could use that against him.

“More importantly, he’s got to get some of his men to front up — if he’s got any men.

“Because in football terms I’m talking about people who will stand up and take responsibility, look at themselves first and foremost and not be pointing fingers,

“And I’m looking at that group and I’m not sure there’s too many of them.”