Arsenal rule out Mesut Ozil exit before the European transfer window shuts

Unai Emery has ruled out the possibility of Mesut Ozil leaving Arsenal before the European transfer window closes.

Ozil has been linked with a move to several clubs including Major League Soccer side DC United but European clubs only have until Monday night to secure a deal.

The 30-year-old is yet to start a match for the Gunners this season having been involved in a car-jacking incident in north London prior to suffering with illness.

It is understood his availability has been circulated to a variety of sides, all of whom have baulked at the prospect of matching his £350,000-a-week wage, but Emery dismissed any chance of the midfielder departing in the coming days.

“We are not speaking about the possibility he could leave,” said Emery. “We’ve finished our transfer window and in Europe it’s going to finish on Monday. We cannot sign another player but we have some players who have the possibility to leave before the window closes. The club is working and some players know their situation.”

Mohamed Elneny is in talks with Besiktas over a move while Skhodran Mustafi has been told he can find another club.

Emery has also revealed that Alexandre Lacazette is yet to shake off the ankle problem he sustained in pre-season. The 28-year-old limped out of Arsenal’s Emirates Cup defeat to Lyon on July 28 and has started just once this term, scoring in a 2-1 win over Burnley.

There have been calls for Emery to start Lacazette, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and £72million club-record signing Nicolas Pepe in Sunday’s north London derby against Tottenham but the Spaniard said: “Yes, but be calm. My decision in each moment is thinking about how we are. For example with Lacazette he had a problem with his ankle.

“This week is the best week of the last three weeks. He’s getting better and feeling better with his ankle, it’s very positive. With Pepe, he came here later than the others but he is getting and feeling better in each match. Aubameyang is very important for us, he scores two goals in the first two matches, he had two or three good actions in Liverpool.”

Rob Holding is training with the first-team group as he nears a comeback from knee surgery but Sunday’s match will come too soon.