Arsenal manager Unai Emery declined to publicly assure Mesut Ozil's future at the Emirates Stadium after once more leaving the playmaker out of his first-team plans.
Ozil was excluded from the Gunners' matchday squad as they faced north London rivals Tottenham in Wednesday's Carabao Cup tie. The Gunners lost by 2-0 thanks to goals from Dele Alli and Heung Min Son.
The German wasn’t in the squad at all last night, and it wasn’t another injury, not another back-ache, it was for ‘tactical reasons‘.
This latest snub means Ozil has made just two appearances for Arsenal in more than a month, including 20 minutes off the bench in Sunday's 3-2 defeat at Southampton.
But Emery repeatedly dodged questions on the possibility of a sale in January while insisting the decision was "tactical". Emery had four opportunities to back Mesut Ozil in that press conference, didn't take any of them.
Read some fans reactions belowUnai Emery explains his reasoning for dropping Mesut Ozil 👇 pic.twitter.com/iTkv6WPB2Y— Goal (@goal) December 20, 2018
Really tough situation brewing at Arsenal now. If they want to get Ozil out, it will be very, very difficult.— Charles Watts (@charles_watts) December 19, 2018
The only reason Emery hates Ozil is because he doesn’t aimlessly run around the pitch little his Ethiopian marathon runners Mkhi and Iwobi— Cameron Giles🇲🇼 (@Jay_SaidIt) December 19, 2018
Ozil is finished. Too slow for the modern game, doesn't give 100% and is damn too laaaaazy. I was a fan of Ozil and defended him but for Arsenal to be great again we don't need Ozil kind of players. I'll swap him for Sanchez any day.— Facts Only (@kobesix1) December 19, 2018
Unai Emery explains his reasoning for dropping Mesut Ozil 👇 pic.twitter.com/iTkv6WPB2Y— Goal (@goal) December 20, 2018
Mesut Ozil left out of tonight’s North London Derby for ‘tactical reasons’. Sorry, WHAT?! For £300k a week, I’d quite like him to be useful whatever the bloody tactics.— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) December 19, 2018
I fear it’s more connected to ‘lack of ticker’ reasons. pic.twitter.com/gbsvTn6Qoe
Dropping fit Ozil for Mkhitaryan and Iwobi two games in a row for ‘tactical reasons’ is a disgrace if you ask me. This needs huge esplaynation— Lacazettes (@Lacazettes) December 19, 2018
You can blame Emery for not picking Ozil all you want, but if you think Ozil would've made a difference tonight, you're lying to yourself. He would've gotten bullied nonstop. He's good only if you have control of the match. He's not a game changer. I think we plan to sell him. pic.twitter.com/j5RxoZCX8u— ArsenalArena (@ArsenalArena) December 19, 2018
The Ozil situation is now one huge soap opera. Highest paid player not even on the bench for a NLD for 'tactical reasons' when the likes of Willock/ Nketiah are. Tough to see this a way back.— Charles Watts (@charles_watts) December 19, 2018
Could have been dressed up as another injury, but Emery clearly wanted this out there.
I wonder what the reactions would be yesterday with Wenger still as manager. Xhaka at cb iwobi starting, laca at bench and our best offensive player Ozil bullied out of the squad bc "tactical issues" .— alocin alset (@EcneicsmaI) December 20, 2018
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