Ozil is ‘best pals with Xhaka and Mustafi’ at Arsenal but remains popular with dressing room after falling out with Emery

MESUT OZIL may be out of favour under Unai Emery at the Emirates - but he still maintains the support of the Arsenal squad.

The 30-year-old playmaker has often been overlooked by the Spaniard since he replaced Arsene Wenger last summer.

World Cup winner Ozil has featured in just 23 out of Arsenal's 43 games this term, despite being available for 32 of them.

While he has started just 17 times for the Gunners in all competitions, with the player regularly missing fixtures due to illness and minor injuries.

Speaking last month on Ozil, Emery said: "He needs to be consistent, be available for training, for the matches, without the injuries, without being sick."

According to the , the former Real Madrid man is unlikely to start against Manchester United in North London tomorrow having been hauled off early in the 3-1 defeat away at Rennes.

While they also state that the ex-Paris Saint-Germain gaffer has accused Ozil of pulling out of tackles, not tracking back and not working hard enough.

But even though he has been isolated at times by Emery, the former Schalke star remains a popular figure in the dressing room - particularly with compatriot Shkodran Mustafi and Granit Xhaka.

Ozil became Arsenal's top earner last year when he signed a contract extension worth £350,000-a-week.

Club legend Lee Dixon believes the player has lost his hunger after he penned a new deal, while Wenger believes the midfielder is in his "comfort zone".

He said: "I feel the length of the contract has nothing to do normally with the selection of the first team.

"But sometimes you have special cases that I don’t want to interfere in.

"Most of the time, we think when we sign a player for five years 'now we have a good player for five years'.

"But that doesn’t necessarily mean that they play their best. Because it’s a bit inviting them to be in the comfort zone."