Mesut Ozil future at Arsenal will be reviewed at the end of the season after the midfielder and the club distanced themselves from the possibility of a transfer this month.

There had been speculation the 30-year-old could leave during January after starting just three of the past 12 matches due to injury and, more significantly, head coach Unai Emery omitting him for “tactical reasons”.

Emery was forced to deny rumours of a training ground bust-up earlier in the season but, regardless, Ozil has not played the key role many would expect of a player earning £350,000 a week.

However, Ozil told Standard Sport in an exclusive interview last November that he was open to staying for the rest of his career, a position which has not changed despite the difficult period.

Ozil’s agent, Dr Erkut Sogut, reiterated that stance yesterday by declaring he is “100 per cent committed” to Arsenal and is open to extending his existing contract, which expires in 2021. The Standard revealed Ozil had rejected offers from Asia worth a staggering £1m a week to sign a new deal last January and it is believed several clubs from the region remain interested in making similar offers should he indicate a willingness to leave.

However, Emery has welcomed Ozil’s desire to fight for his place and it is understood the relationship between the pair has not yet significantly deteriorated despite a difference in opinion over his worth to the team. To his credit, Ozil has not become the same disruptive figure that Alexis Sanchez was last year, when he pushed for a move and ended up joining Manchester United after talks with Manchester City collapsed.

An offer from one of Europe’s leading teams would test the resolve of club and player, but Arsenal are in no rush to sell and with Ozil willing to knuckle down in the second half of the season, both are set to assess their options at the end of the campaign when a significant overhaul of the squad is set to continue.

Aaron Ramsey is now free to talk to overseas clubs after entering the final six months of his contract and it remains to be seen whether Liverpool or United offer a fee to Arsenal in order to follow up their longstanding interest.

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Meanwhile, the Gunners face Blackpool in the FA Cup third round on Saturday with 5,200 fans expected to make the trip despite travel chaos on the trains.

Kick-off is at 5.30pm, but the last train returning to London leaves at 6.38pm. Sunday’s timetable is heavily impacted by rail replacement bus services.

The Gunners have laid on a series of subsidised coaches with multiple pick-up points available, including outside Emirates Stadium, for £10 per person.