Aston Villa will likely have to face Mesut Ozil this weekend, with Arsenal revealing that the player will be rested for the trip to Eintracht Frankfurt.
Ahead of the Europa League clash, Arsenal boss Unai Emery confirmed that he was resting Ozil and Sokratis for the European fixture, but confirmed that the pair will likely face Aston Villa this weekend.
Emery said, via the Birmingham Mail:
I prefer after the Sunday match to rest that match and to train and to be ready for Sunday.
Because we are going to play another match on Sunday. My decision is because he played and also I’m thinking tomorrow the focus and the first 11.
After that I decided who are the players who can be the best for tomorrow and also the players not and that is Sokratis and Mesut.
Really the first match he played on Sunday, he played well and was good physically – also giving us his capacity and skills and after his first minutes (of the season) it was good for us.
Now he is ready to help us, not tomorrow but on Sunday – we are going to play another match and tomorrow we are thinking to do some rotation.
Read Aston Villa’s Verdict
This could be a blow for Villa, if Ozil can get back to his best.
However, he’s really not showing it as of late, and at the minute, he is unlikely to feature at all.
The German has not had a happy time as of late at Arsenal and looks to be very much out of Emery’s plans.
Therefore, Ozil’s absence from the squad might not effect Villa at all.
