Unai Emery has hinted that the “demanding” nature of Arsenal’s clash with Bournemouth was the reason for leaving out Mesut Ozil on Sunday.
The Gunners earned an important 2-1 victory at Dean Court, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang netting a second-half winner to extend his team’s unbeaten run to 17 matches.
Ozil was a notable omission from the starting lineup, further suggesting that the relationship between Emery and the German is not at its healthiest.
Speaking to reporters after the game, the Arsenal boss suggested that Ozil was left out for physical reasons:
We thought how we can do better in the match, a very demanding match with physicality and intensity.
Given Bournemouth’s reputation for being a ball-playing team rather than a robust one, Emery’s comments don’t make total sense.
There may be more behind Ozil not playing than it appears on the surface, as he struggles to maintain a regular spot in the side.
Next up for Arsenal in the Premier League is the north London derby against Tottenham on Sunday – a huge match, both in terms of bragging rights and the top-four battle.
It will be interesting to see if Ozil is handed a start for the game, following his absence at Bournemouth.
Another place on the substitutes’ bench would further suggest that all is not well.
