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Arsenal news: Where’s Mesut Ozil? German star missing from pre-Vorskla training
MESUT OZIL was a notable absentee from Arsenal training today as they prepared for their Europa League clash with FC Vorskla.
Emery reveals why Ozil was benched at Bournemouth clash
Arsenal face a long trip to Ukraine this afternoon where martial law has been introduced in certain regions.
As a result, UEFA's Emergency Panel has moved the match from Poltava to Kiev and will take place at the Olimpiyskiy Stadium.
With Tottenham to play on Sunday, it is expected Arsenal boss Unai Emery will field a makeshift team against Vorskla.
A host of young players took part in training at London Colney earlier today including Zech Medley, Joe Willock, Buyako Saka, Eddie Nketiah, Charlie Gilmour and Dominic Thompson.
But Ozil was not pictured in the images released by the club.
Ozil did not play in the recent international break and was left out of the team which beat Bournemouth on Sunday by Emery because he was concerned by his ability to cope with the “physicality and the intensity” from Eddie Howe’s side.
He said: “We thought how we can be better in the match today which is very demanding with the physicality and the intensity.
“Also today we tried with three centre-backs like we've done at some stages this season and it's another possibility for us to improve and find our best performance.”
Ozil’s absence from training suggests he will not be on the flight to Ukraine and raises fresh doubts about his future.
Despite that, Arsenal legend Ian Wright praised Emery for making big selection decisions.
“He makes decisions because they are best for the team," Wright said on BBC Radio 5 live's Monday Night Club.
"He's not afraid to say 'you know something, I don't think I'm getting enough out of you' and against a Bournemouth side he's got the nerve to drop him.
“It's up to Ozil to kick on.”