I tried my best with Ozil: Arteta

Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta insists he "tried his best" to make sure Ozil find his feet up and running in Arsenal and was "patient" and "fair" in his treatment of the German midfielder.

Ozil has fallen down the pecking order and has been omitted from the Gunners' Premier League and Europa League squads and his fate does not look like changing at all.

"What I can tell you that I tried my best, I tried to give him as many opportunities as I could," the Arsenal boss told Sky Sports.

"And that from my own side, I've been patient, given him opportunities and been fair.

"He's a player that belongs to a football club, he's been a really important player in the last few seasons. I have to respect that, I'm here to make decisions, the best decisions for the team and for the club.

"This is what I try to do and then I have to explain them because people need the reasons and the right answers. I just give mine, whether they believe me or agree with me or not, there's nothing I can do.

"But I have to put my decisions, with my heart and with my brain to make the right decisions that I believe are good."