Arsenal icon Ray Parlour doubts Mesut Ozil's future at the club after Unai Emery chose not to include him for the Premier League clash against Manchester United. Before the game at Old Trafford, the manager revealed that the German player did not make the cut and that it was his decision to leave the midfielder out.
It was only last year that Ozil signed a new lucrative contract at Arsenal, but he's been only in one Premier League match for the Gunners so far. Without Ozil, Arsenal and Man Utd concluded in a 1-1 draw after Scott McTominay's opener was leveled by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
In an interview with talkSPORT, Parlour was asked about Emery's decision of snubbing Ozil:
"I don't know what the future holds for him [Ozil]. I think that could be the last straw"
Parlour was quick to rectify that of course, he doesn't know the full circumstances behind the scenes with Ozil, but he's worried that the 30-year-old's recent exclusion would become the deciding factor in which he'd be eventually offloaded.
For this reason, Ozil's future at Arsenal is again being questioned. During the summer, the German was among the names often mentioned in exit rumors from Emery's side.
When it was found that the midfielder would be omitted from the Gunners' team-sheet, many assumed he must have picked up a late injury. However, the Spanish gaffer later confirmed in a pre-match interview that Ozil is perfectly well.
Asked about Ozil's absence, Emery was nonchalant when he answered that he won't make an appearance. The manager was asked for details about whether his decision was tactical and not due to injury, but let out a blunt "No" and said that he was the one who decided the eleven.
No Mesut Ozil in the squad for Arsenal tonight!
Unai Emery was giving nothing away to @GeoffShreeves, though...
Watch live build-up to Manchester United v Arsenal on Sky Sports Premier League now or follow our live blog here: https://t.co/ri7luVs2y5 pic.twitter.com/1f7qmxTN8O — Sky Sports MNF (@SkySportsMNF) September 30, 2019
With Ozil absent on the pitch, Arsenal's midfield was composed of Granit Xhaka, Mateo Guendouzi, and Lucas Torreira.
Asked why Torreira had come in to make just his second league start of the season, the 47-year-old manager said that the Uruguay national "deserves it" based on his last games.
The pre-match interview ended with Emery discussing his decision to include Bukayo Saka, saying that the club is helping its younger players.
