Arsene Wenger: Man United link won’t affect Mesut Ozil commitment

Arsene Wenger believes Mesut Ozil’s current run of form for Arsenal can help silence his critics. Arsenal netted four goals in the second half to maintain fourth place in the Premier League with a 5-0 win over Huddersfield.

LONDON — Arsene Wenger is confident Mesut Ozil will show his commitment to Arsenal when they face Manchester United on Saturday, despite being widely linked with a possible move to Jose Mourinho’s side next summer.

Ozil was the star of Wednesday’s 5-0 win over Huddersfield Town, with two assists and a goal in a four-minute span, and will be in the spotlight again on Saturday after reports of a move to United — and a reunion with former Real Madrid boss Mourinho — when his Arsenal contract expires next summer.

But Wenger said he is not worried at all about Ozil’s mindset going into the match at the Emirates Stadium.

“Look, that’s all speculation, you cannot interfere with that,” Wenger said. “There’s only one way to show how much you are committed, that’s your attitude on the pitch. And when you see him play, one thing you cannot question is the way he wants to play for the team.”

Mesut Ozil was in impressive form against Huddersfield.

Wenger was also keen to downplay talk about his longstanding rivalry with Mourinho, and said he does not expect the United boss to park the bus on Saturday — having been accused of using overly defensive tactics in big away games.

“No, I don’t expect anything special,” Wenger said. “I expect us just to cope with the problems they will give us. They will attack as well, they will not only defend. I haven’t seen them a lot, and it’s not down to me to judge the way they play.

“I think I have just to look at the way we play, and to prepare well for the game. They are a dangerous team, they have made fantastic results. So to beat a team like that, you need to be at your best. And that’s what I want to focus on.”

Mattias is ESPN FC’s Arsenal correspondent. Follow him on Twitter: @MattiasKaren.

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Source: espn.co.uk