Mesut Ozil has damaged his knee ligaments and, in doing so, becomes the eight first team player to take a place in Arsenal’s treatment room.
The Germany international has thus far endured a frustrating campaign, as he struggles to find the form which persuaded the Gunners to spend a club-record £42.5million on his signature last summer. Although the 25-year-old has had ample opportunity – he has played nine times – he has scored just once and assisted twice so far this term.
And now the former Real Madrid man will have to wait a little longer before pulling on the red shirt in an attempt to win over his doubters, after his national side confirmed he is likely to be out for up to three months. Ozil played 90 minutes in Arsenal’s 2-0 loss at Chelsea on Sunday, and turned up for international action complaining of a pain in his left knee.
A statement from the German Football Association read: “The MRI examination today at National Dr Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt in Munich revealed a partial rupture of the outer band of the left knee joint. The treatment is conservative, with six weeks of immobilisation of the knee joint. Mesut Ozil is likely to be (out for) 10 to 12 weeks.”
As disappointing as his early-season form has been, the loss of Ozil will be a huge blow for Arsene Wenger at a time when he already has seven first-team players absent through injury: Aaron Ramsey, Theo Walcott, Olivier Giroud, Mathieu Debuchy, Serge Gnabry, Mikel Arteta, and Yaya Sanogo are also sidelined, although the latter two are in contention to return against Hull City on 18 October when the Premier League campaign resumes.
How big a blow will Ozil’s injury be to Arsenal, or will his absence even be noticed? Let us know what you think by joining the discussion below.
