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Mesut Ozil did not make the squad as Arsenal claimed their first three points of the season with a 3-1 victory over West Ham United at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

After the match, new Gunners boss Unai Emery made it clear that the German’s exclusion was due to illness, as reported by the BBC.

However, even when he returns to full health, the 29-year-old ought not to be an automatic starter for this Arsenal side. For all of the No. 10’s undoubted talent, he has been far from his best for too long, and he has not yet adapted to the new system that Emery is trying to implement in North London. 

If Ozil wants to get back into the fold, he must first prove that he is capable of complying with the new manager’s defensive demands. 

If he can rise to this challenge, Arsenal would have quite the playmaker on their hands. 

What do you think Arsenal fans? Do you agree that Ozil must show more before he can be considered a starter again for the Gunners? Or do you feel that he should be thrown in against Cardiff, if fit, from the first whistle so that he has a chance to play his way through this bad patch?