This archive report was first published on 4 October 2019.
On October 4, 2019, Arsenal coach Unai Emery made 10 changes to the team that drew at Manchester United on Monday, with Mesut Ozil not making the matchday squad on either occasion.
Emery's decision to leave Ozil out of the squad has lent weight to speculation that the 30-year-old does not have a long-term future at Arsenal.
"I am thinking every time to decide the best players for each match and the best players in the squad to play and to help us," Emery said when asked about Ozil's omission.
"When I decided he shouldn't be in the squad it's because I think other players deserved it more," Emery added.
Despite Ozil's absence, Arsenal secured a 4-0 victory over Standard Liege in the Europa League, with Gabriel Martinelli scoring a brace in the first half.
Emery praised the team's performance, saying, "There's not a better way to come back," referring to the return of injured players like Rob Holding, Kieran Tierney, and Hector Bellerin, who captained the side on his first start since January.
