Paul Merson says Mesut Ozil must start for Arsenal against Tottenham

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Arsenal play host to Tottenham Hotspur in the North London Derby on Sunday.

Paul Merson suggested the Arsenal must start Mesut Ozil against Tottenham at the Emirates on Sunday, if they are to have any chance whatsoever of winning the North London Derby, when speaking exclusively to Sky Sports.

The Gunners currently sit two places and three points behind Spurs in the table, and Unai Emery’s side will be desperate to get one over their fierce rivals this weekend.

Arsenal can actually climb above Tottenham in the table with a win on Sunday, but they will need no extra motivation when Tottenham roll into town.

A key player for the Gunners could be Mesut Ozil, but it is unclear as to whether the German will actually start the game, having been left out last time out against Bournemouth.

Merson, though, believes that the 30-year-old play-maker must start on Sunday, explaining how Arsenal need all the passers they can get, when speaking exclusively to Sky Sports:

“Tottenham have to play like they did last weekend, or Arsenal have every chance. But if they squeeze them, they haven’t got the ball players to play around it. They should start Mesut Ozil because they need all the passers they can get.”

When Ozil is at his best, he is truly world class, but the problem for Arsenal is that he rarely demonstrates what he is really capable of.

If the Gunners are to have any chance of beating Tottenham, they will need the German to be firing on all cylinders.

He needs to perform in the final third as well as putting a shift in defensively, and it is a sad indictment of his time at the Emirates that Arsenal cannot rely on him to do that in every game.