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Arsenal's Ozil needs to be 'more consistent' to earn start - Emery

Arsenal boss Unai Emery has said Mesut Ozil needs to be "more consistent" to win his place back in the side.

Ozil has started just once since the Dec. 26 draw at Brighton, and former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger recently said the ex-Real Madrid man was in his "comfort zone" at the Emirates after signing a long-term contract last year.

"The key is in his hands and he is working very well this week," Emery said in a news conference ahead of Arsenal's Europa League round-of-32 second leg against BATE Borisov. "I ask him in our conversations to be consistent -- to be available for us [in] training.

"When you can train with a regularity, with consistency it can help [produce the] best performance to help us in the games and now, this week, it's good for all the players because I think we are in an important moment for the season.

"I am doing the training like we want. I know he wants [it], but he needs consistency, [to be] available in training and the matches without the injury and without being sick.

"Like that, we can see the best Mesut with us."

Arsenal will need to overturn a 1-0 deficit from the first leg against BATE if they are to match or improve on last season, when they reached the Europa League semifinals.