Arsenal ace Mesut Ozil DROPPED by Unai Emery for Liverpool clash – star hasn’t travelled

Ozil started for Arsenal in their draw against Brighton on Boxing Day but was hauled off at half time.

The German has found his opportunities limited under Unai Emery with the boss questioning his commitment and ability to deal with the physical side of the game.

And now it appears that Ozil will miss Arsenal’s crunch trip to Anfield on Saturday (5.30pm).

Emery’s side arrived on Merseyside on Friday evening but Ozil was nowhere to be seen.

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The likes of Lucas Torreira and Aaron Ramsey were all pictured getting off the team bus but Ozil appeared to be missing.

Ozil has come in for plenty of criticism this season having scored just three goals this campaign.

He has also made just one assist with the likes of Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi outshining the 30-year-old.

And Arsenal hero Emmanuel Petit has slammed Ozil for his poor performances this season.

“Arsenal were magnificent against Brighton for 30 minutes,” Petit said.

“They played good football but, just as they did at Southampton, disappeared all of a sudden.

“The quality they had been showing vanished and it became obvious what their weakest link was – the defence. The goal they conceded was awful.

“Mesut Ozil was taken off at half-time. I’m a big fan of his, but he has been a ghost for two years.

“Where is the Ozil who was one of the best players around, making so many assists and goals? I think he has lost his desire on the pitch, it’s not there any more.”

Arsenal gained a point off Liverpool when they met earlier in the season, with Alexandre Lacazette’s equaliser cancelling out James Milner’s opener.

And Emery knows Saturday’s clash will be a completely different showdown.

“I look at their progress over the last year and they are maybe in the best moment now,” he added.

“But for us it is a big challenge and a good test to know who we are, the difference between them and us in the table is clear and also I want to look at the pitch.

“We have one test against them at the Emirates, we drew but it was a good match. In Liverpool is going to be a different match to what we played here.”