Interim Arsenal manager Freddie Ljungberg has criticised Mesut Ozil’s behaviour after his substitution against Manchester City at the Emirates last week.
The German midfielder kicked his gloves after being substituted during the second half of Sunday’s 3-0 defeat to the Premier League champions
As a result, Ljungberg – who took temporary charge of Arsenal for the last time in Saturday’s draw at Everton – said even if Ozil had been fit, he would still have left the player out of the matchday squad at Goodison Park.
The Swede explained why he made that choice after the game against Everton.
“For me, I got asked after the game about Mesut,” he said. “He walked off the pitch [in the Man City game] and then kicked his gloves. The fans were not happy.
“I got asked about it and said, ‘At Arsenal, that’s not how we behave and not what we do’. I stand by that. Mesut was injured, but I would not have picked him for the squad because I want to make a stance that it’s not what I accept from an Arsenal football player.
“That’s my decision. I won’t make the decisions again, but that’s what I think.”
Ljungberg – who had new boss Mikel Arteta watching from the stands at Goodison – also selected Arsenal’s youngest starting lineup in a Premier League game since May 2011.
“I think we have a lot of talent, but from what I said before against City, I wasn’t happy with the effort we put in,” said the caretaker Arsenal boss.
“We played a top team and of course they’re very good, but you still need to run and you need to put in an effort.
