Martin Keown 'urges Unai Emery to build team around Mesut Ozil'

Martin Keown has urged Arsenal boss Unai Emery to build his team around German midfielder Mesut Ozil.

The former Real Madrid player, who has been linked with moves abroad throughout the year, has been regularly left out of the Gunners' matchday squads this season, with his appearance against Liverpool on Wednesday his first since September 24.

Ozil was highly impressive in that game and close to his creative best, providing a clever assist for Arsenal's fourth goal.

The club's former player Keown has now urged Emery to build around the German, saying in an interview with talkSPORT: "We know Ozil has the ability and the quality.

"He has more ability in his little finger than most. People couldn't even dream of some of the things that he's capable of.

"It's about looking at the tactics and what can Arsenal deploy around him to get that creativity into the team. Let's build a team around him, but the tactics from the manager have to be better."

Ozil may be involved in Arsenal's game with Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday but captain Granit Xhaka will miss out amid the fallout from his outburst directed at the club's fans last weekend.