Mesut Ozil started in Arsenal’s 2-2 draw vs Watford last weekend and despite the Gunners dropping points, the German was one of their best players on the pitch.
So it was quite natural that he would get to start in Arsenal’s first Europa League game vs Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday.
But surprisingly, Mesut Ozil did not even travel with the squad which led to rumours that he was purposely kept out of Germany due to his sudden retirement from the national side last year.
Unai Emery though promptly rebuffed these claims and speaking before the Eintracht game, the manager made it clear that Mesut Ozil was being rested for Sunday’s clash vs Aston Villa.
“I prefer after the Sunday match[vs Watford] to rest that match and to train and to be ready for Sunday,” Emery said(as quoted).
“Because we are going to play another match on Sunday. My decision is because he played and also I’m thinking tomorrow the focus and the first 11.
“After that, I decided who are the players who can be the best for tomorrow and also the players not and that is Sokratis and Mesut.
“Really the first match he played on Sunday, he played well and was good physically – also giving us his capacity and skills and after his first minutes (of the season) it was good for us.
“Now he is ready to help us, not tomorrow but on Sunday – we are going to play another match and tomorrow we are thinking to do some rotation.”
Mesut Ozil provided the much-needed creative spark last weekend vs the Hornets and manager received a lot of slack when he took him off towards the end of the match.
But playing at home, we are pretty sure the playmaker will get the full 90 minutes vs Aston Villa – more so since the away side would be looking to park the bus.
And Emery would need someone of Ozil’s craft and finesse to cut open the Villa defence.
