Ozil left out in the cold for Euro clash
ARSENAL misfit Mesut Ozil’s future was plunged into deeper uncertainty after he was left behind for tonight’s crucial Europa League tie in Belarus. Ozil missed Saturday’s win over Huddersfield through illness but trained on Tuesday and yesterday. Yet the German did not fly out with the squad that arrived in Minsk last night for this evening’s last-32 first-leg clash against BATE Borisov. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was also ill and missed the Huddersfield match but he is in Belarus with the squad. Manager Unai Emery said: ‘The players we didn’t bring were because Aaron Ramsey did not train and Sokratis only started training yesterday and today — I think it’s not enough. Mesut is the same. ‘Auba, after he was sick, trained on Monday, yesterday and today, and I think he’s OK for the match.’ Ozil’s omission casts yet more doubt on his long-term future at the Emirates Stadium. Ozil has now missed more games than he has played this season due to illness, persistent back problems, a niggling knee injury or simply being left out. There are concerns at Arsenal over why the club’s top earner is missing so many games. The playmaker’s fitness and well-being will be closely monitored in the coming weeks.
ARSENAL probable (3-4-3): Cech; Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal; Maitland-Niles, Torreira, Xhaka, Kolasinac; Aubameyang, Lacazette, Mkhitaryan.