Arsenal Head Coach Coy On Duo’s Return To The Squad

Mikel Arteta refused to confirm whether or not Mesut Ozil and Matteo Guendouzi would return for Norwich…

Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta refused to confirm whether or not Mesut Ozil or Matteo Guendouzi will return to the squad ahead of our clash against Norwich City, the boss told Arsenal Player.

The pair missed our cup clash against Sheffield United on Sunday for differing reasons, with Ozil suffering from an apparent back problem while Guendouzi remains exiled.

The 21-year-old hasn’t been involved in the matchday squad since the controversial clash at Brighton where Guendouzi was involved in a physical altercation with Neal Maupay.

Maupay needlessly jumped into Bernd Leno as the goalkeeper rose to the collect the ball, leaving the German stricken on the floor following the impact from his awkward landing.

Guendouzi escaped any retrospective punishment following the game, though Arteta made it clear that he would view the footage and take action himself.

It has resulted in the former Lorient man experiencing some time away from the matchday squad with Arteta stressing that any disciplinary issues will be handled privately.

“I said that everybody that I have in the squad, my job is to get the maximum out of them and to try to help them and support them,” Arteta said when asked if Guendouzi and Ozil would feature again this season.

“And if they are willing, everybody is welcome.

“I always hope that the players want to give their best,” the Spaniard added.

When Arteta arrived, he made it clear that there were some cultural “non-negotiables” he was looking to instil, and failure to fall in line would see you kicked to the curb. It’s only fair that he enforces it.