Unai Emery insists he has the backing of the Arsenal hierarchy in his continued stand-off with Mesut Ozil.
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The former Germany international has not featured in the Gunners' past five matchday squads, with manager Emery offering little explanation as to his surprise decision to ostracise the highest-paid player in the club's history.
Ozil has posted a number of cryptic social media messages and said recently that he wants to stay at the club and will work hard to regain his place.
There has also been a groundswell of support for the 31-year-old from Arsenal fans who have grown weary with a perceived lack of creativity within the team.
Emery has played five different players in Ozil's preferred No.10 role over the past two games - a 1-0 loss at Sheffield United and a comeback 3-2 Europa League victory over Vitoria - while the former Real Madrid man has been sat at home.
But the Spanish mentor has revealed talks with those high up in the club saw an agreement reached that overlooking Ozil was the right move.
"Here, we have one agreed strategy as a club and as a team," he said, when asked if there was any pressure from above to put Ozil back into the team.
"Because the most important thing is the club, the team and finding a performance.
"Previously we were all speaking between us to take that decision.
"I know all the supporters want to know something but now is not the moment. I think it is not the moment to speak about him."
One of the five players used as a playmaker was Lucas Torreira, a defensive-minded player who has struggled to hold down a regular place under Emery this season.
Seeing the Uruguay international popping up on the edge of the box raised plenty of eyebrows in the win over Vitoria, but Emery explained that he is keen for Torreira to lead his pressing game.
"I was speaking with him about his best position to help us in our shape," Emery said.
"It depends on the shape... This year we are playing also sometimes with just one, and he can achieve with his quality to get to the box and get closer to score and is very intelligent about getting space around the box and taking chances."
Australian Associated Press
