Midfielder Mesut Ozil will miss Arsenal’s Premier League match against Liverpool on Saturday after being absent from the travelling squad to Anfield.
Ozil was part of Arsenal’s final training session on Friday but did not travel with the team, nor was he anywhere to be seen when the entire squad arrived at the Merseyside hotel late on Friday.
The former Germany international, who has been in and out of coach Unai Emery’s side, reportedly complained of knee pain after Friday’s session and was therefore left out of the match-day squad.
Arsenal though are yet to announce their final squad for the major clash at Anfield. The north Londoners have won just twice in their last five league matches, a period which saw their unbeaten run come to a halt with the 2-3 defeat to Southampton.
They are placed fifth in the league table but with resurgent Manchester United on their heels, the Gunners will have to re-find their form.
Ozil, on the other, has had a tough time at the start of the 2018-19 season. He excelled in the 3-2 win against Burnley but was substituted at half-time at Brighton, which Arsenal drew 1-1. Emery later stated that it was only for “tactical” reasons.
They are already without midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who has been ruled out for a minimum of six weeks, and also have injury setbacks in defence.