MX23RW : Thursday, January 17 14:24:55

Unai Emery plays down Mesut Ozil absence against West Ham United

Unai Emery plays down Mesut Ozil absence
© Reuters
Arsenal manager Unai Emery plays down the significance of Mesut Ozil's absence from the matchday squad for his side's 1-0 defeat to West Ham United.

Arsenal manager Unai Emery has suggested that the absence of Mesut Ozil had no impact on his side's 1-0 defeat to West Ham United this afternoon.

The Gunners missed the chance to move level on points with fourth-placed Chelsea as Declan Rice scored the only goal of the game at the London Stadium.

Ozil was missing from the matchday squad entirely - despite being fully fit - leaving Emery with only Eddie Nketiah and Aaron Ramsey as attacking options on the bench when chasing the game.

However, the Spaniard believes that the players he selected should have been capable of winning the game and played down the significance of Ozil's absence.

"We have enough players to win today and impose our gameplan. Maybe if we had an attacking player [on the bench] we can can create, but I think it's enough with these players," Emery told reporters at his post-match press conference.

"I decided that these players are the best ones for this match. We have won with him and lost with him - you cannot say with one player we would win or lose.

"He is working normally this week. Today I think the players that are here are the players who deserved to be in this match. With him we could win or lose. We continue working with every player, but today the decision is to come with these players."

The result saw Arsenal lose an away game against West Ham for the first time since 2006.


Click here for more stories about Mesut Ozil

Click here for more stories about Arsenal

Share this article now:
Mesut Ozil in action for Arsenal on November 3, 2018
Read Next:
How Arsenal could line up against Blackpool
>

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Select and display your favourite team's news and scores in this panel

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Select and display your favourite team's news and scores in this panel
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool22183150104057
2Manchester CityMan City22172359174253
3Tottenham HotspurSpurs22160646222448
4Chelsea22145340172347
5Arsenal22125546321441
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd22125544321241
7Watford229583232032
8Leicester CityLeicester229492625131
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham229493032-231
10Everton228683331230
11Wolverhampton WanderersWolves228592328-529
12Bournemouth2283113142-1127
13Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2275102430-626
14Crystal Palace2264122028-822
15Burnley2263132343-2021
16Southampton2247112339-1619
17Cardiff CityCardiff2254131941-2219
18Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2246121631-1518
19Fulham2235142049-2914
20Huddersfield TownHuddersfield2225151337-2411

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Select and display your favourite team's news and scores in this panel
Login, I already have my ad-free pass
Log in to customise Sports Mole
Buy ad-free access (show me the options)
Buy monthly ad-free access for £1.20/month
Buy yearly ad-free access for £12 (2 months free)
Settings - Logout - Manage your account
Settings - Logout - Manage your account