Arsenal manager Unai Emery says he understood Mesut Ozil’s reaction after being substituted in the 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace yesterday.

The German playmaker was taken off on the 68th minute, avoiding the Gunners boss’s high five as he walked to the bench, as well as throwing down his captain’s armband down in frustration.

Asked about the incident after the match, Emery says he likes his players to be angry if things are not going well:

“It’s normal to not be happy, not happy because the result wasn’t good. I like players who show character when we are not playing well. Usually, every player wants to continue playing.”

Ozil didn’t have his most effective game against Palace yesterday, with the lack of controlled possession being the main reason behind why the 30-year-old was substituted.

Emery wanted to have someone more effective on the counter-attack, with the in-form Danny Welbeck taking his place on the pitch.

However, the change didn’t help Arsenal to a twelfth consecutive win. Wilfried Zaha won a controversial penalty which Luka Milivojevic slotted away with seven minutes left on the clock to share the spoils.