Arsenal manager Unai Emery has explained his decision to leave out one of the Gunners’ star players from the starting eleven against Bournemouth on Sunday.

Emery is hoping to secure a place in the Champions League after replacing Arsene Wenger who failed to finish in the top four of the Premier League in his last two seasons at the club.

The Arsenal boss took his side to Bournemouth on Sunday in search of a win after three straight draws in the league.

Emery made the bold decision to drop Mesut Ozil from the starting eleven as he changed the team’s formation.

And when asked about why he chose to omit the ex-Real Madrid star from the team, the Gunners’ boss gave his explanation.

“We thought how we can be better in the match today, which is very demanding with the physicality and the intensity, but every player is important,” the Arsenal manager said after the game.

“[Bringing Ozil on] depended on how the match was going, how it is going in the 90 minutes, and I decided for another option. In the beginning of the season we were speaking every day about being organised and competitive – and it’s the same today.

“Also today we tried with three centre backs like we’ve done at some stages this season, and it’s another possibility for us to improve and find our best performance.”

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