Arsenal have been given a major blow after German international Mesut Ozil has been ruled out for more than three months with a knee injury. The 25-year-old has been struggling for form in the last six months, but he has also been playing non-stop football during this period.
Last season, he had a break for a couple of weeks that helped him find his form towards the business end of the campaign. It also would have been partly responsible for his superior form at the World Cup 2014, where he helped Germany lift the title.
Ozil played the full 90 minutes on Sunday against Chelsea. He did not show any signs of discomfort, but the German football Association has immediately identified the problem with the knee that will force the midfielder for around 12 weeks. This would mean that he will not only miss the upcoming Euro 2016 qualifying matches for the German national team, but also a massive time during the Premier League season – Arsenal were already struggling if you take any guidance from the William hill odds on English Premier League, and will now have to do without their record signing. The run of matches in December is unlikely to see Ozil taking part. The Champions League group stage matches will also be missed by the £ 42 million signing.
Wenger, though, will see this as a blessing in disguise since he has had to fend off questions about Ozil’s poor form. “Second training without [Andre] Schurrle (individually at the hotel) and Ozil. He had travelled with knee problems, is to have an MRI scan in Munich,” said a spokesman for the German football association before the scan was taken. It confirmed that the player has suffered an injury in the knee. Ozil joins the lengthy injury list at Arsenal, which already comprises players like Aaron Ramsey, Olivier Giroud, and Theo Walcott. Some, though, are expected to return after the international break to provide relief for the manager.
