Arsenal return to Premier League action on Saturday with question marks hanging over the head of Mesut Ozil.Unai Emery has confirmed the 30-year-old will be among the 18 players available to him when Burnley come to town.
But, with concerns over whether he suits Emery’s style of play, there are doubts over whether he will start against the Clarets. Emery has insisted Arsenal want to keep hold of Ozil and batted away a question of whether he has a future in north London.
“I want every player with a good mentality to help us and give us their characteristics and quality,” Emery said. “We need Mesut Ozil.”
However, it could be an injury which opens the door for Ozil to return to the starting line up, rather than due to Emery’s backing.
The Arsenal gaffer has revealed fellow midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan is unavailable, along with defender Shkodran Mustafi.
“We know today, the latest news, and for example Mkhitaryan is out,” Emery said.
“[Laurent] Koscielny is okay but he played two matches this week and tomorrow will be a lot for him.
“We also need to be calm with him, to take time for a lot of matches before he continues playing.
“Sead Kolasinac, I think for tomorrow is okay. Players are continuing to recover with Sead.
“I don’t remember now. Mkhitaryan is out. Mustafi is also, for tomorrow, out too.”
Bernd Leno is expected to return in goal after Petr Cech came into the team for the Carabao Cup defeat to Tottenham.
Nacho Monreal, Sokratis Papasathopoulos and Granit Xhaka will form a makeshift back three, with Stephan Lichtsteiner and Ainsley Maitland-Niles at wing back.
Matteo Guendouzi and Lucas Torreira will be in the thick of it in the middle of the park, with the returning Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on the flanks.
Alexandre Lacazette will lead the line for Arsenal, although he may interchange with Aubameyang as the game develops.