Mesut Ozil looks set to miss out on the Arsenal matchday squad for this evening's Premier League clash against West Ham United.
The attacking midfielder has not featured in a competitive match for the Gunners since the corresponding fixture last season in which he claimed an assist for Alexandre Lacazette in a 1-0 win.
When asked about the former Germany international's current status, manager Mikel Arteta said he's been impressed with Ozil's performances in training.
"I think they have all been training really, really well and the spirit at the training ground is great and we are happy because everyone is pushing each other, so let's try to maintain that," the Spaniard told reporters.
But will the 31-year-old return to the squad for what is the Gunners' first home game of the 2020/21 season?
It looks like that won't be the case if Ozil's Instagram stories are anything to go by.
Previously when the playmaker is in a matchday squad, he takes to social media and does his best to hype up the upcoming game.
He did this on several occasions last season for games against the likes of Liverpool in the Carabao Cup, a home clash in the Premier League against Wolves as well as Mikel Arteta's first game in charge away at Bournemouth.
And whilst he has been active on Instagram ahead of the clash against the Hammers, the post has absolutely no relation to the game at the Emirates Stadium which would suggest Ozil has not made a matchday squad yet again.
So barring a surprise, it looks like Ozil won't be making his return to the fold this evening and that won't sit well with Tim Sherwood who believes the German should be in the team ahead of Dani Ceballos.
"Ceballos in my opinion is average. I think he’s too weak for the Premier League and I think he’ll get found out this year," Sherwood said. "I think they need a little bit more guile in there. You need a player in there like Mesut Ozil in that middle of the pitch.
"When teams are scared of the pace of Saka and Aubameyang and Lacazette and they want to defend deep where’s the guile where’s the player who is going to open the teams up. Ozil is the man to do that."
