Mikel Arteta has offered Mesut Ozil a lifeline to save his Arsenal career amid news he will be excluded from the Premier League squad.
The German has not played for the Gunners in seven months, last appearing in March. With one year left on his £350,000-a-week contract, the club tried to offload him in the summer transfer window.
But Ozil was happy to stay where he was and see out his contract. And earlier this month, the former Real Madrid star was a notable absentee when Arsenal submitted their 25-man Europa League squad.
The same fate looks set to befall him in the Premier League, with Arteta experiencing something of a selection headache. Arsenal have 19 foreign players - two more than selection guidelines will allow.
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