Mikel Arteta suggested that Mesut Ozil isn't 'fit, willing or performing at the level he's capable of' as he opened up on his reasons for dropping him.
Ozil had featured in every Arsenal match under Arteta until he was dropped by the Spaniard for the Gunners' 3-0 defeat by Manchester City on Wednesday night.
Arteta not only failed to select Ozil - Arsenal's best-paid player - for his starting XI, he also opted against naming him on his nine-man bench.
The Arsenal boss refused to reveal his reason for dropping Ozil before the match, before later confirming it was for "tactical reasons".
Ahead of Arsenal's Premier League clash with Brighton, Arteta provided a little more information on why he dropped Ozil, and suggested the German hasn't been putting the work in on the training ground since returning from the three-month hiatus.
"I have been very open with Mesut," said Arteta. "Since I joined I thought that he was fit, willing and he wanted to perform at the level he can do.
"He has played every game with me I think. The moment I see that he is ready again to do that, I will treat him like anybody else."
On how Arteta reacted to being dropped, Arteta added: "He was very well with me. There were no issues at all.
"My conversations with Mesut will remain between me and him. What I can tell you is that it was a completely fine, honest and clear conversation. That's it.
"He has played every game with me I think. So that it is. The moment I see that he is ready again to do that, I will treat him like anybody else.
"There's a lot that's happened to him in the last few weeks and I have to respect the time for every player. Sometimes they need a little bit of time.
"It's been difficult preparation the last two months to get players ready and again, I'm the first one who wants Mesut at the best. I'm going to put him on the pitch when I think he can give his best."
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