Arsenal favourite Mesut Ozil has faced a turbulent summer and the heat was turned up a notch this week when he announced his decision to quit international football with Germany, accusing the DFB and senior figures of racism.
Ozil, who has Turkish heritage, has been criticised following Germany’s shambolic defence of their World Cup crown in Russia but hit back at his critics with a series of social media posts, which he finished by announcing his decision to snub any further caps for his nation.
The former Real Madrid man will now focus solely on his club football at Arsenal, with whom he signed a lucrative new deal earlier this year, and has found support from new Gunners boss Unai Emery.
Speaking to reporters at the club’s pre-season tour of Singapore, the Spaniard said:
“It’s a personal decision [which] I respect. We are like his home. We are like his family. We are going to help him to feel good.
“He feels here with us that he can work every day, and it is good for us that he decided to come here and work with us before our two matches. I prefer to give him normality in the team, he feels good with us.
“This normality is best for him and I’m sure he’s going to have a big season for us.”