Unai Emery has yet again decided against using Mesut Ozil as Arsenal prepare to host Vitoria in the Europa League.
The World Cup-winner has now not featured in five successive games with his last outing in the 5-0 demolition of Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup.
Hector Bellerin and Kieran Tierney do start for Arsenal, however, in a defence which also includes Rob Holding and Shkodran Mustafi.
Despite praising Ozil's training levels over the past few weeks, Emery has left him out of his selections for two games straight after that statement.
Instead, he has chosen to use the promising Emile Smith Rowe to create chances from the No. 10 position in what is his first start since the Forest game.
Elsewhere, Alexandre Lacazette returns to the starting line-up as Gabriel Martinelli and Ainsley Maitland-Niles offer support out wide.
In midfield, Joe Willock pairs Lucas Torreira who is making his third straight Europa League start. More than he has made in the Premier League this season.
Although Ozil has been in high demand with Arsenal fans as this saga has unfolded, they are no longer shocked with the Spaniard's decision not to use him.
This is even more the case after Ozil's cryptic message on social media in the build-up to the match against Vitoria.
