Arsene Wenger has revealed that Mesut Ozil will ‘certainly’ be short for Arsenal’s clash against Huddersfield on Wednesday.
There was a last-minute change to Arsenal’s squad ahead of their Premier League match against Burnley on Sunday after it was announced that Ozil had been taken ill and therefore couldn’t take part.
Wenger admitted post-match that while he hadn’t seen him personally, it doesn’t look as if the playmaker will be included in the starting line-up against Huddersfield on Wednesday either.
“I haven’t even seen him,” Wenger said after Arsenal’s 1-0 win at Turf Moor on Sunday.
“The doctor came to see me and said we had to travel him back today.
“He was in the hotel with us. He travelled up and travelled back.
“We brought [Ainsley] Maitland-Niles, who arrived at 1pm because we were only 17 [without Mesut].
“Will he be available for Wednesday? Certainly he will be short for Wednesday.”
The 29-year-old put in a Man of the Match-winning performance during the North London Derby last weekend so it was disappointing that he wasn’t well enough to be involved at Turf Moor. It was a difficult match and, in the first half in particular, the Gunners found it difficult to get through the Clarets.
It was once again a last-minute penalty that won the tie and boosts Arsenal above Liverpool and Tottenham into the top four.
❄⚽❄ #COYG @Arsenal pic.twitter.com/Acrcsvl7rR
— Mesut Özil (@MesutOzil1088) November 25, 2017
With Ozil on the pitch, the job could have been slightly easier. That’s if he was at his best, of course. Although hopefully our mid-week match against Huddersfield will run slightly smoother. I said ‘hopefully’.
I’m sure Wenger would much rather have the German recovered and ready to face Manchester United at the Emirates next Saturday evening.