Report: Mesut Ozil being forced out of Arsenal by Unai Emery

Arsenal manager Unai Emery is reportedly deliberately refusing to pick Mesut Ozil in an attempt to force the German midfielder out of the club.

The 30-year-old has been frozen out of the first-team picture over the past six weeks, being used just twice since the Boxing Day draw with Brighton & Hove Albion.

Ozil was taken off at half time at the Amex Stadium and had to wait a whole month before his next appearance, coming from the bench in the 3-1 FA Cup loss to Manchester United, while his solitary start in 2019 came in the 2-1 win against Cardiff City last week.

Emery again left the former Real Madrid ace on the bench at Manchester City last weekend, though, and the Spaniard has admitted that he has concerns about the player's workrate in certain matches.

BBC Sport suggests that Ozil is slowly being forced out of the Emirates Stadium, with the Gunners keen to get his £350,000-a-week wages off their bill.

Ozil, who only signed a new long-term deal 13 months ago, is believed to be a target for Italian side Inter Milan.