Arsenal defender Nacho Monreal has insisted that there is no truth to the rumours regarding a breakdown in the relationship between Mesut Ozil and manager Unai Emery.
Ozil's absence from the Premier League match against West Ham United earlier this month sparked speculation that there had been a fallout with new boss Emery, who was reported to have told the German playmaker to work harder.
The 29-year-old's work ethic has been questioned on numerous occasions in the past, but Monreal does not believe that he should be expected to change the style of play which has brought him so much success in the past.
"People must understand that every player is completely different. He is [quiet] and 10 years ago he was the same. So you can't expect on the pitch that he starts to fight, to talk with the referee because he never did it. He is not going to change in this case," the Spaniard told reporters.
"The important thing is he plays at his highest level, gives a lot of assists, scores a lot of goals and basically helps the team. That's what he knows. He doesn't know how to go up to a player and grab him by the throat.
"People have been a bit unfair with him. He is a very famous player and obviously people love talking about him. Recently, it is always bad things. Like last time, he was sick and that's why he didn't play. People started to invent that he had a problem with the manager. It wasn't like that. He got a cold, he was sick, that's it. That's why he didn't play."
Ozil will not be in action during the current international break, having retired from Germany duty in explosive fashion last month.
Barney Corkhill
