Arsenal could be without the services of Mesut Ozil against Liverpool on Saturday after the midfielder was forced to miss training through illness.
The German international has looked out of sorts for the Gunners in recent games, but he still remains a key player for manager Arsene Wenger, who seeks to keep his side within the Champions Leagues.
The north London outfit are currently fourth in the Premier League – one point above and one game in hand over Liverpool, and this makes the clash this weekend all more important.
Ozil was alongside his Gunners’ teammates in a team bonding session last night where they had some fun at the Bloomsbury Bowling, and this appears to have had an effect on his health.
According to Goal.com, the World Cup winner is facing a fight to prove his fitness after he missed training this morning due to flu-like symptoms – for which he was advised rest by the club doctors.
The 28-year-old has provided just a solitary assist in his last five outings, and the latest setback could be hard to take given he was previously allowed a week’s rest to recover from a back spasm in late February.
Meanwhile, the Gunners appear to have received a boost on the opposite side of things with Reds skipper Jordan Henderson likely to be out for this weekend’s fixture with a bruised foot.
Arsenal have found it tough on their away trips to Liverpool in recent seasons, and they will have to contain the Reds attack if they are to salvage a positive result against a side, which have lost just once to a ‘Top 6’ opposition.
