Unai Emery is keen to offer Mesut Özil a semblance of “normality” following the Arsenal midfielder’s controversial decision to retire from international duty with Germany this week.
Özil, 29, accused the German Football Association of treating him with “racism and disrespect” over a photograph featuring the player alongside the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, which was taken before the World Cup.
The DFB has “emphatically rejected” Özil’s claims of racist treatment and while the Arsenal manager Emery did not take sides, he offered his support to the German as a member of his squad on a pre-season tour of Singapore.
Speaking before Thursday’s friendly against Atlético Madrid Emery said: “All of us want to help Mesut feel like it is his home here with us, like a family and it is a family for every player.
“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.”
Emery says he has not yet spoken to Özil about his decision. “He arrived on Sunday to travel and I prefer to give him the normality in the team and for him to feel good with us,” said the Spanish coach.
“He has experience, he has quality and he has a great mentality and we are going to help him feel good and to show his quality with us. I am sure he is going to have a big season with us.
“I am very happy with him, every player is looking together and Mesut has the respect of every player here. It is a personal decision from Mesut and I respect it.”
Petr Cech, who insists he is “concentrating on this season” amid speculation about his long-term future at the Emirates Stadium, is also keen to back Özil. “As a team we support him here, we try to make sure he feels good, so he can train and perform at his best. As a team that’s all we can do,” said the Arsenal goalkeeper.
“Obviously his decision is his decision and everyone should respect that. He’s training really well, he’s happy to be with us and we’re happy to have him back as well because he is one of the key players in our team and we need him to be fit and ready for the season.”