Official reports claimed that Ozil missed out on the game through illness
Mesut Ozil missed Arsenal’s match against West Ham United on Saturday after reportedly being taken ill prior to the side’s Friday evening session.
Details of the illness were not disclosed by the club as the former German international sat out the Gunners third league game of the season.
A Brazilian football journalist has however disputed this version of events after claiming that the midfielder was left out of the Arsenal match day squad due to a heated argument with manager Unai Emery earlier in the week.
The reporter, Joao Castelo-Branco, who works for ESPN Brazil, said that “Ozil had an argument with coach Emery at practice this week, came out screaming and is out of the team today. Information from more than one source linked to the club”
Confirmo mais uma vez a informação que apurei e mencionei ao vivo no abre jogo na @ESPNagora . Ozil teve discussão com o técnico Emery no treino essa semana, saiu gritando e está cortado hoje. Informações de mais de uma fonte ligada ao clube. #PremierLeagueNaESPN
— Joao Castelo-Branco (@j_castelobranco) August 25, 2018
Ozil featured in both of Arsenal’s previous league matches this season – defeats to both Manchester City and Chelsea – and was hauled off in their 3-2 defeat at Stamford Bridge.
Speaking on Monday Night Football, pundit Gary Neville claimed that Emery – who replaced Arsene Wenger at the club during the summer – is “working Ozil out” and that his decision to substitute the former Real Madrid player was a means to seeing whether or not he is willing to adapt to the Spaniard’s techniques.
The claim was later discredited by manager Unai Emery, who said that it was little more than a “lie”.
“This information isn’t true. I don’t know who started telling this information. He was sick yesterday. He left training because he was going home sick. No problem with the player. Ask the doctor,” he said.
Emery on Ozil training-ground bust-up report: "This information isn’t true. I don’t know who started telling this information. He was sick yesterday. He left training because he was going home sick. No problem with the player. Ask the doctor." #afc #arswhu
— Paul Brown (@pbsportswriter) August 25, 2018
