By Daily Sports on January 13, 2019
Unai Emery has suggested that he left Mesut Ozil out of the Arsenal squad to face West Ham due to tactical reasons, claiming that he has trained normally all week.
The suggestion had been that the German playmaker was still suffering with a knee injury and thus had not been risked for Saturday's game against Manuel Pellegrini's side.
But Emery did not mention any injury issue when asked to explain why Ozil was left out. He told reporters: "I decided the players who are the best for this match. We win with him and lose with him. Not one player is for sale."He’s working this week normally. Like I said we win with him and lose with him. Today the decision is to come with these players."
The Gunners would come unstuck at the London Stadium, with Declan Rice's goal early on in the second half proving the difference between the two sides.
It is the first time Arsenal have been beaten away from home by the Hammers since 2006, when Marlon Harewood's 89th-minute strike claimed all three points for the hosts at Upton Park.
The decision to leave out Ozil will again raise eyebrows, with it not being the first time Emery has decided that he is better off without the German in his matchday squad.
Indeed, Ozil was not part of the 18-man squad for Arsenal’s north London derby defeat to Tottenham in the Carabao Cup back in December, with Emery having insisted on that occasion that it was due to “tactical reasons”. But Emery instead opted to play Granit Xhaka alongside Matteo Guendouzi in the central midfield area, with Alex Iwobi and Alexandre Lacazette playing in support of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The result means Manchester United could move level with the Gunners in the Premier League table, should they collect all three points against Tottenham at Wembley on Sunday.
As for Ozil’s future, it remains to be seen how he will react to being left out again by the Spaniard, with fans undoubtedly uneasy at the situation given it appears almost certain that Aaron Ramsey is on the way out.
The Welshman, who started on the bench against the Hammers, is all set to join Juventus on a free transfer in the summer, with the Serie A giants having offered him a €7 million (£6m/$8m) per year contract (Goal)
•Photo shows Mesut Ozil
Source Daily Sports
Posted January 13, 2019
You may also like...
‘Joshua will KO Dubois in two rounds’ ‘Amusan deserves apologies over world record hate’
Oduamadi faster than Manchester City’s Sterling ...on FIFA...
Lacazette, Saka Under Watch As Arsenal Tackle Aston...
Liverpool Defender Out With Ligament Damage
Paul Pogba ‘Unhappy’ And ‘Has To Leave’ —...

Onuachu, Ndidi, Yohanna lead 12 Nigerians into Europa, Conference League playoffs
Lagos revives monthly cadet table tennis tourney
Fizdale names D’Tigers roster for World Cup qualifiers
Hearn threatens to sue White over Joshua, Fury fight
UK ex-Commonwealth champion Baptiste found jailed in Morocco
Why elite athletes use supplements — Report
No Kangaroo Committee Can Save Gusau, his NFF Jesters - Give Us Emenalo
Falcons to get new coach before Olympic qualifier
Okocha bemoans Eagles’ lack of home ground
Ajayi set for Silesia Diamond League showdown
Awoniyi fired up for Coventry after reported £9m move
Pro boxers celebrate Aboderin at 60
Rangers International going, going . . . (64,037 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (55,396 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (53,284 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,888 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,763 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,640 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,537 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (52,047 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (51,252 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,724 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (48,209 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,590 views)