Step up or continue warming the bench, Emery tells Mesut Ozil

Mesut Ozil, Unai Emery [Courtesy]

Unai Emery has challenged Mesut Ozil to fight for a place in Arsenal's starting XI after being left out of Thursday's Europa League win over Standard Liege.

Speaking to the media after the match, Emery asked Ozil to work hard to earn a spot for Sunday's Premier League game against Bournemouth at the Emirates Stadium.

The former Sevilla boss pointed out that Ozil did not impress to feature in the Standard Lieg match.

"I am thinking every time to decide the best players for each match and the best players in the squad to play and to help us.

"If I decided he is not in the squad, it's because I think another player deserved it more."

Pressed on what Ozil must do to regain his place, Emery replied: "Continue working. Tomorrow [Friday], we have training, and Sunday we have another match and we are going to decide the same: the best team possible to achieve our target, which is to win on Sunday and adapt to the difficulty of Bournemouth."

The former Real Madrid superstar has only played twice this season, in the 2-2 Premier League draw at Watford and last week's 5-0 EFL Cup defeat of Nottingham Forest.

Arsenal teenager Gabriel Martinelli scored a brace on Thursday night to spark a 4-0 demolition of Standard.

Martinelli, 18, headed in superbly to give last year's runners-up Arsenal the lead on 14 minutes at the Emirates Stadium before adding a quick-fire second barely two minutes later.

The Brazilian was making just his second start for the Gunners since joining the club in July.

He also struck twice on his full debut against Nottingham Forest in the League Cup.

Joe Willock fired in a third for a youthful Arsenal on 22 minutes and Martinelli set up Real Madrid star Dani Ceballos on the hour to wrap up another comfortable win in Europe as Unai Emery's side moved on to six points at the top of Group F.