Arteta unsure if David Luiz has played his final game for the club
Friday 19 June 2020 10:10, UK
Mikel Arteta says he will restore Mesut Ozil to the Arsenal team when he thinks the playmaker "can give his best".
The Gunners boss left Ozil out of his squad for Wednesday's 3-0 defeat at Manchester City due to "tactical" reasons, casting further speculation over the German's future at the Emirates.
"I've been very open with Mesut from day one," said Arteta.
"I thought he was fit and willing and wanted to perform at the level he can do. I think he has played every game with me.
"The moment I see he is ready to do that again I will treat him like everyone else. I have been more than fair with him and he has responded in many games, the way I want. That's it.
"A lot has happened to him in the last few weeks and I have to respect the timing of every player. Sometimes they need a little bit of time.
"It has been difficult preparation in the last two months to get players ready.
"Again, I am the first one who wants Mesut at his best. I will put him on the pitch when I think he can give his best."
When asked how Ozil reacted to being omitted, Arteta replied: "He was very well with me. There were no issues at all.
"My conversation with Mesut is going to remain with him and me. It was a clear and honest conversation."
Arteta is unsure whether the disastrous outing against Manchester City will be David Luiz's last for the club but says Arsenal have to "make big decisions" financially due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Brazilian was introduced as a first-half substitute for the injured Pablo Mari, who could miss the rest of the season.
He endured a torrid 25-minute cameo, which saw him at fault for Raheem Sterling's opener before being sent off for hauling down Riyad Mahrez in the penalty area.
Luiz's contract expires at the end of the month and Arteta named him on the bench at the Etihad to try and protect him from his off-pitch issues.
"We need to be fair on him," said Arteta. "I'm going to defend him with everything I have because I believe in him. He has shown me a lot of things in my time here. His character speaks for itself.
"We cannot forget the financial situation. The way Covid-19 has hit every club and the economy in general, it is going to have an impact.
"What the club is doing at the moment is assessing the situation and trying to clarify a lot of uncertainties that we have in the future.
"I will have to make big decisions but timewise it is difficult to fit them in our needs. We are trying our best and it is difficult sometimes because the player or our sporting necessities in a difficult situation, but again we have to adapt. It is what it is.
"That's why I wanted to protect David on Wednesday and didn't start him. It's a funny game and after 20 minutes you need him.
"He is a player with a lot of uncertainty in the last few weeks."
Asked if there is turbulence behind the scenes at Arsenal, Arteta said: "There are consequences. The people who are running the club are very responsible and what they don't want to do is put it in a difficult position.
"In order to do that, let's analyse first how our finances are going to look like."
For the Premier League's resumption, Sky, the UK's leading football broadcaster, will make 25 games available 'free to air' - including Everton vs Liverpool on the first full weekend back - for everyone in the UK to enjoy.
Sky Sports will show 64 live Premier League games during the resumption of the 2019/20 Premier League season. In addition to the 39 matches already scheduled to be broadcast exclusively live on Sky Sports before the coronavirus interruption, 25 more matches will be available on both Sky Sports Premier League and Sky's free-to-air Pick channel, allowing the whole nation to be part of the return of live sport.
