Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil is reportedly a doubt for this weekend's huge Premier League clash with Liverpool as fourth takes on fifth at Anfield on Saturday evening.
According to Goal.com, Ozil didn't train on Wednesday and was sent home on doctor's orders after displaying flu-like symptoms. He had attended a team bonding session at a bowling alley the night before, but arrived at London Colney the following morning feeling unwell.
Avoiding contact with the rest of the Gunners' squad will be important so as not to spread the virus, while the German World Cup winner has two days to get better if he is to be selected on Saturday.
Arsenal bounced back from consecutive Premier League defeats with a win against Hull in their last league outing and will need to at least avoid defeat on Merseyside to stay ahead of Liverpool in the race for a top four finish and Champions League qualification.
Only a single point separates Arsenal and Liverpool going into the game, with a loss for either also having the potential to open the door for Manchester United to creep up from sixth.
Anfield remains a challenging place to go for the Gunners. Arsene Wenger's team hasn't won at the stadium since 2012. Ozil in particular has found things tough in front of the Kop, giving a very poor performance when Liverpool ran out 5-1 winners back in February 2014.
Arsenal had been leading the Premier League standings at the time, only to fall away badly and ultimately finish the season in fourth place.
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