AXED Arsenal duo Mesut Ozil and Matteo Guendouzi have been warned: Show your team-mates you are worth keeping.
Mikel Arteta says they must convince colleagues they can be team players before returning to action.
The Gunners boss is not prepared to jeopardise the spirit that was such a key factor in last week’s shock wins against Liverpool and Manchester City.
Ahead of Tuesday night’s trip to Aston Villa, Arteta said: “It’s not just me that needs to give a green light. Everybody has to be supportive.
“Without that support it’s very uncomfortable.
“If you show you have decided to do the best not only for yourself but for the club, I think everyone will welcome you.
“I sense great chemistry at the moment. They’re all on board and they can rely on each other.
“Most important on the pitch is they know what to expect from each other, not a flick of a coin with a few players.”
Ozil has not played a minute of Arsenal’s ten games since the restart while Guendouzi has trained alone since clashing with Arteta after the 2-1 defeat at Brighton.
Arteta clearly believes his team are doing fine without them, adding: “If we’re willing to defend like this throughout games we give ourselves a chance.
“If we have to push them all the time, that’s not going to accomplish anything long-term.
“But they really enjoy it and are proud of their defending, they can see the results and it develops a powerful sense of unity.”
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Arsenal need to win both remaining Prem games against Villa and Watford to have a chance of a top-seven finish.
But winning the FA Cup final against Chelsea a week on Saturday will also seal a Europa League spot to boost transfer potential.
Arteta does not know how much money he will have but wants to end the uncertainty over 25-goal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, now in the final year of his contract.
Boss Arteta added: “We have a lot of uncertainties and he is one of them.
“I’ve been clear what I want from Auba, the quicker we do it the better.
“But we have to respect the needs of the club and it’s going to have an impact playing in Europe or not.”
