Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil has been ruled out of Saturday's crucial meeting with Liverpool due to illness.
The German was expected to recover from a recent bout of flu butGoal.comreport that he did not travel to Merseyside with the rest of the Gunners' squad and is now almost certain to miss the match at Anfield.
Blow for Arsenal as Ozil OUT of Liverpool clash - https://t.co/fac67nFxHx pic.twitter.com/3o8F9x7n6x
It is understood that Ozil was sent home from training on Wednesday on the advice of the club doctor and though manager Arsene Wenger suggested in his pre-match news conference that the midfielder would be 'ok' to play, he has now been told to rest at home and prepare for next week's Champions League last-16 second leg match with Bayern Munich.
Wenger's side head into the next Tuesday's match seemingly destined to exit the competition as they face an almost impossible task of overturning a 5-1 aggregate deficit.
With this weekend's meeting with Liverpool likely to have great significance in the race for a top four spot, it will surprise many fans that Ozil has not been risked for the match.
Whilst the Germany international has been on the receiving end of plenty of criticism in recent weeks, his tally of nine goals so far this season means the Gunners are losing a valuable asset to their side, as they look to inflict more misery on a Reds' side who have won just once in the league since the turn of the year.
Ozil will now join fellow midfielders Santi Cazorla and Mohamed Elneny on the sidelines, although there are not thought to be any further injury concerns ahead of Saturday's game.