Unai Emery hints at building his Arsenal side around Mesut Ozil to revive German’s ailing form

Unai Emery insists he has no plans to play Mesut Ozil in a more defensive role and has hinted that he plans to build his Arsenal side around the German.

The new man at the helm of the north Londoners has also told his players they must pass the ball more to the 29-year-old as he plots how just to get the best out of a man severely lacking in form.

Ozil has looked a shadow of his former self since signing a new bumper three-year contract to stay at the club back in January.

He has managed just one goal in that period, away at Ostersunds FK in the Europa League, and struggled for both club and country, unable to deliver at the World Cup which was marred by a string of events off the field.

Ozil appeared to be playing in a deeper role in the 2-0 defeat by Manchester City last weekend but Emery is adamant that has not been asked of him and instead he wants to see the best out of him in an attacking sense, with all Arsenal players asked to play their part.

“The positioning, Ozil is playing all his career like a 10 player or like a right winger going inside to receive the ball,” said the Spaniard. “It’s clear he needs the ball more to give more options in the attacking moments. He needs to do in each match, be demanding for us.

“Defensive moments are for each and every player. Don’t change Mesut Ozil in his positioning. Every player needs to do [defensive work] in the true moment of a match. There are defensive moments and attacking moments. Every player each needs this commitment.

“For me, we need to start together, whether we are attacking or defending. I want that from every player.”

Helping Ozil rediscover his form is one of Emery’s first challenges as he looks to bounce back following the loss by City at Chelsea on Saturday as Arsenal’s tough start to the campaign continues.

But the former Paris St-Germain head coach, who is looking to create an attractive, passing style, playing out from the back, has not ruled out changes to his tactics and could even play two central strikers in his side at some stage.

“The possibility to play [Pierre-Emerick] Aubameyang and [Alexandre] Lacazette is OK because we are trying like that in pre-season and also last year they played together also,” he said.

“Each match if different, each match is a different possibility. Against Manchester City, the last 25, 30 minutes they played together. For me it is to find the good balance for all that we want in attacking moments and defensive moments. It [change] depends on the performance and if the performance is good.

“I want to give them the chances in each match and maybe we need a lot of matches for the chances for every player but we started with the pre-season and every player is playing for chances and minutes and with all the competitions we are going to play more matches and I think every player will get chances to show us his performance for the team.”.

Emery is forced into at least one change for the London derby at Chelsea as Ainsley Maitland-Niles is set for two months on the sidelines after suffer a fractured left leg, meaning Nacho Monreal should come in now he has a week of training under his belt.

Arsenal have had a disappointing record at Stamford Bridge lately, failing to win a match at the venue since the 5-3 victory in October 2011.