Arsenal are in action against West Ham at the Emirates today, as Unai Emery aims to get a first win as Arsenal manager. Mesut Ozil is uninvolved, however, with the erstwhile German international not even on the bench. Arsenal's line is that Mesut Ozil misses out through "illness", which has been an alarmingly frequent occurrence in recent years. Mesut Ozil absence Mesut Ozil gets ill a lot — Matt Law (@Matt_Law_DT) August 25, 2018 Apparently this is the 7th time Ozil has missed a game in the last couple of years due to 'illness'. Mental. — Andy Kay (@NotMyTempo85) August 25, 2018 Advertisement Mesut Ozil’s illness is that he is sick of Arsenal — Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) August 25, 2018 There may be more to Mesut Ozil's absence, however. Joao Castelo-Branco, a reporter with ESPN, reports that Ozil had a dispute with his manager during training this week, eventually storming out. As punishment, Ozil was omitted from the squad today. Ozil was subbed after just an hour of last Saturday's game away to Chelsea, the same fate that befell Aaron Ramsey the week previous against Manchester City. Emery evidently is unafraid about clashing with the biggest personalities at Arsenal. See Also: Widespread Calls For VAR Introduction As Man City Concede Controversial Goal<doc-sep>Mesut Ozil was left out of the matchday squad for Arsenal's clash with West Ham - and one reporter believes he knows the reason why. The official line is that the German international is ill, but an ESPN journalist has another reason: he believes that Oziil was left out of the squad because of a bust-up with manager Unai Emery. Confirmo mais uma vez a informação que apurei e mencionei ao vivo no abre jogo na @ESPNagora . Ozil teve discussão com o técnico Emery no treino essa semana, saiu gritando e está cortado hoje. Informações de mais de uma fonte ligada ao clube. #PremierLeagueNaESPN - Joao Castelo-Branco (@j_castelobranco) August 25, 2018 Advert 10 "I confirm once again the information that gather and I mentioned live in the Open game on @ESPNagora. Ozil had an argument with coach Emery at practice this week, came out screaming and is cut today. Information from more than one source linked to the club. " The two, reportedly, had an argument this week, which has led to the play-maker being dropped from the squad. Mesut Ozil's illness is that he is sick of Arsenal - Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) August 25, 2018 Emery is really losing me. Same issue with PSG, can't work with stars is as rigid with his formation/tactics as Wenger, but it's worse since there's a huge gap between attackers and defenders where midfielders should be/ - RickRuss (@russ99a) August 25, 2018 Advert 10 Özil and awful lazy player.... Emery is selling him - Raheem :flag_tz::flag_de: (@Raheem_rahiim) August 25, 2018 Mesut Ozil gets ill a lot - Matt Law (@Matt_Law_DT) August 25, 2018 Ozil has been a contentious figure at the Emirates in recent years, with some criticising his work-ethic on the pitch, especially with the brilliant talent he possess. Paul Merson, the pundit, suggested that Emery should drop Ozil from the squad, in order to fit his system. Advert 10 "He hasn't got the players to have a 20-yard gap between defence and attack, working hard. Ozil and Mkhitaryan are not those type of players," Merson told Sky Sports, per the Metro. "If you were building a team tomorrow, you'd want to play a high pressing game, work as a team, not to have gaps between the lines, and you're not buying Ozil and Mkhitaryan. "If you go the Arsene Wenger way, wanting to play entertaining, free-flowing, great football, then Ozil and Mkhitaryan will walk in any team in the world. "But they will not get in teams that want to press! "I don't know if the current crop have gone past being able to learn that way of playing. That's my concern. I don't mean regarding their age, but in the way they play the game. "Ozil's future? I don't know. I'm a big fan of him, he's a quality player, but sometimes you watch him and the game passes him by."<doc-sep>DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/Getty Images Arsenal were without Mesut Ozil for West Ham United's visit to the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League on Saturday, though the reason for his absence is unclear. The attacking midfielder missed "three days of training due to flu," according to Goal's Chris Wheatley. It's far from the first time illness has laid Ozil low, per Ben Dinnery of ESPN FC: However, Joao Castelo-Branco of ESPN reported the reason for his absence is actually an argument with head coach Unai Emery, per Castelo-Branco's colleague Liam Twomey. However, Emery denied that claim, per Mattias Karen of ESPN: His latest absence meant the Gunners had to shuffle the pack between the midfield and forward lines, with Arsenal confirming Aaron Ramsey returned to the starting XI: Ramsey, whose contract expires next summer, is back in the fold after Emery revealed he had urged the Wales international to forget about negotiations over a new deal. Per BBC Sport, Emery said of the 27-year-old: "I only need his focus on training, the matches and on his performance each day." Emery started Ramsey in the advanced position in midfield for Arsenal's 2-0 season-opening defeat to Manchester City. Yet the former Cardiff City man was dropped to the bench for the 3-2 loss away to Chelsea last time out. Video Play Button Videos you might like Alex Iwobi also started against the Hammers after being in the XI to face Chelsea. The Nigerian playmaker has the vision and flair to offset Ozil's absence in the final third. Julian Finney/Getty Images Emery opted against replacing Ozil with another striker, such as Alexandre Lacazette. Playing Lacazette alongside centre-forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is something Emery is wary of, per Rory O'Callaghan of Sky Sports. The Spaniard is seeking a first win in charge at the Emirates Stadium, and his efforts haven't been helped by a sketchy start from Ozil, who was challenged by his new boss to work harder, per John Cross of the Daily Mirror. The Gunners are still waiting for Ozil to hit peak form after he signed a contract extension worth £350,000 per week until 2021 back in January. Missing valuable time is going to be doubly costly for the 29-year-old while Emery works on creating a new pattern of play at Arsenal, and if a row did indeed prompt the decision, another element of uncertainty will enter the fray.<doc-sep>Unai Emery has strongly denied reports that Mesut Özil was left out of Arsenal’s squad for the 3-1 victory over West Ham after a training ground argument with his manager. Özil was ruled out of Emery’s first win since succeeding Arsène Wenger because he was ill – the seventh occasion since the start of 2017 the midfielder has been listed as sick. Emery dismissed suggestions that Özil, who is one of Arsenal’s five nominated captains this season, had been absent after a row. The manager insisted the 29-year‑old was suffering with catarrh. “This information isn’t true. I don’t know who started telling this information,” Emery said. “You ask me or the doctor of the club – he was sick. “I spoke to him and the doctor and we decided he would not play. He left training to go home because he was sick. Today, I said to him come in if you feel better and today he feels better. “Before the match he was speaking with me and the team. There is no problem with the player – ask the doctor and he will explain it.” The reports claimed Özil had stormed out of a training session at the Emirates Stadium on Friday after being told he would be on the substitutes’ bench against West Ham. He started Arsenal’s first two Premier League games of the season against Manchester City and Chelsea but was withdrawn in the second half at Stamford Bridge in the 3-2 defeat. Özil signed a contract worth a reported £350,000 a week in February but has made only eight appearances since. Emery warned this week that the £42.5m signing from Real Madrid must expect the criticism that has come his way since he announced his retirement from international football after Germany’s surprise elimination in the group stages of the World Cup.<doc-sep>
Mesut Ozil was reportedly dropped from the Arsenal squad by Unai Emery after an argument between the pair in training. However, the new Gunners boss has denied that there was any fallout between the pair. The now-retired German international was not named in the matchday squad for Saturday's 3-1 win over West Ham. 'Illness' was cited as the reason for the 29-year-old's absence. However, it was subsequently claimed Ozil - who was replaced in the starting lineup by Aaron Ramsey - was in fact completely left out after Emery took a hard line stance following a confrontation between the pair. (Image: 2018 Getty Images) According to ESPN, Ozil, who had started against both Manchester City and Chelsea, argued with Emery before walking out of training on Friday. "Ozil had an argument with coach Emery at practice this week, came out screaming and is cut today," it was said. It came just one day after Emery - who has made Ozil one of his five captains at the club - insisted the German is part of his Arsenal "family", but also suggested the the playmaker must learn to deal with criticism, in the wake of his international exit. However, speaking after earning his first win in the Premier League, Emery poured scorn on the suggestion. (Image: West Ham United via Getty Images) "The information isn’t true," said the Spaniard, denying that Ozil stormed out of training after being told he wouldn't start. "I don’t know who started telling people this information. He was sick yesterday. And decided not to play today. “If you ask me, the doctor, or the club. He was sick. He left training because he was going home. He was sick. Today he was here. I said come if you feel better and he felt better. “Before the match he was with the team and with me. So there is no problem with the player. Ask the doctor, he can explain better.” Nacho Monreal, an Issa Diop own goal and Danny Welbeck earned Arsenal a first three points of the season.