Mesut Ozil’s non-selection was again a talking point after Arsenal’s Carabao Cup defeat against Tottenham – and boss Unai Emery was particularly evasive when asked about his future.
Ozil was not included in the matchday squad and his future at the Emirates Stadium looks bleak.
The German has been linked with a number of clubs amid reports the Gunners could sell him in January.
Emery said: “It was a tactical decision, I thought the players today that are with us, were for us the best for this match.
“We have 24 or 25 players and when they are playing in one or not playing in another it is for me the decision and today it is tactical.
“The focus is to analyse this match and for Saturday, it is a very important match. Tomorrow we are going to train with every player.
“I am thinking about the match on Saturday and not thinking about another situation. Every player is important, I decided he didn’t play and it was only a tactical decision.”