The Arsenal No.11 will not play any part in the club’s attempt to complete a shock comeback in their midweek Champions League tie
Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil has been ruled out of Tuesday’s Champions League last 16 second leg with Bayern Munich due to illness.
The Germany international missed Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to Liverpool having been sent home from training last Wednesday by the club doctor with flu.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger confirmed that he wouldn’t be in any shape to play against Bayern at the Emirates Stadium this week, with the Gunners chasing a 5-1 deficit against the Bundesliga title holders.
“I don’t think Mesut Ozil is ready physically to be in the squad tomorrow,” he told reporters. “He should be okay for the weekend. He only had one session yesterday.”
Ozil was one of the standout players for Arsenal in the group stage, scoring a brilliant goal against Ludogorets.
However, he was relatively anonymous as Bayern romped past Wenger’s men at the Allianz Arena as rumours regarding his future continue to build.
The 28-year-old has fewer than 18 months remaining on his contract at the Premier League club, whom he joined from Real Madrid in 2013 for an estimated £42.5 million.
Goal understands that Ozil’s future is dependent on whether Wenger extends his stay at Arsenal beyond 2016-17.
Massimiliano Allegri has been linked with the Arsenal manager position should Wenger decline the offer on the table to stay at the club an extra two years.
Arsenal face Lincoln City in the FA Cup quarter-finals this weekend, with the competition increasingly looking like their best chance of silverware this season.
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