Press conference

Emery on why Ozil wasn’t in the Arsenal squad

Unai Emery was quizzed about Mesut Ozil’s absence from the matchday squad against West Ham on Saturday as we claimed our first win of the season.

This is what the head coach told the media:

on claims that Mesut Ozil left training after being told he wouldn’t play today...

Maybe in English it is difficult to explain, but first, why is this information [being reported]? It isn’t true. That information needs first to be true. Who is starting to telling you or us this information? You ask me, or the doctor, or the club. He was sick yesterday. He spoke with the doctor and with me, and decided not to play today. But he did not leave training [due to that], but because he was going to his home, because he was sick.

on whether he would have played if he was not sick…

He was sick and today, he was sick. He left to his house and I said to him, to come [to the match] if he feels better and he feels better today and before the match he is with the team and with me.

on what type of sickness he has…

When you are sick… I don’t know how I can explain in English. In Spanish it is ‘catarro’.

Translator: He is blocked up, he’s got a cold.

UE - He is bad with sick. It is not a problem with the player, it is not true this information. So ask the doctor and the doctor can explain better!