Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil has acknowledged that he becomes frustrated when it is claimed that he has feigned illness in order to miss a match.
Since the arrival of Unai Emery, Ozil has struggled to hold down a role in the starting lineup, with his manager recently suggesting that the playmaker does not deserve to be in the team.
The German has also been accused of lacking commitment and faking illness, something which he has strongly refuted by insisting that he has only been unavailable when it has been "impossible" to play.
Ozil told The Athletic: "I also get really frustrated when I miss a game through illness and people question if it is genuine. Yes, it happened a few times, usually in the winter, but what am I supposed to do?
"If you knew me, you would know it takes a lot for me to miss a game and I have never used sickness as an excuse. Actually the opposite. I played many games when I was ill or had injuries.
"Most players don't play when injured or sick - it influences your game, you can't give everything - but I was always available unless it was impossible."
The 31-year-old has also recently ruled out leaving the Emirates Stadium in one of the upcoming transfer windows.
Darren Plant
