Unai Emery’s troubles at Arsenal continue to mount after being forced to deny a rift with creative midfielder Mezut Ozil.
The former Germany international was not involved in Arsenal’s 3-1 win over West Ham on Saturday and illness was attributed to his absence from the matchday squad.
However, it emerged midway through Arsenal’s encounter with West Ham that Ozil ruled himself out after a training ground bust-up with Emery.
The new Arsenal manager, who is already dealing with an unsettled Aaron Ramsey, reportedly informed Ozil he would be benched against West Ham.
Ozil has come in for heavy criticism following his performances in Arsenal’s first two matches and Emery even called out the German and demanded a higher work-rate.
The 29-year-old reportedly did not take news of being benched well before ruling himself out of contention through illness for the seventh Arsenal match since the start of 2017.
When quizzed by reporters after Arsenal’s first win of the season, Emery strongly refuted any falling out with Ozil.
“Why is this information [out there]? It isn’t true,” Sky Sports quote him as saying. “I don’t know who is telling you this information.
“He sat down with me and we decided that he would not play. He left training because he was going his home because he is sick.
“Today he was here, I told him to come if he feels better and he feels better today and before the match he was with the team.”
Of Arsenal players that have started a Premier League game this season, Ozil has the lowest WhoScored rating (6.15).
