Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Football London
Football London
Sport
Josh Challies

What Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said about David Luiz absence ahead of Man City fixture

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has teased a significant insight into the goings-on behind the scenes at the club following the Premier League clash with Manchester City.

The Gunners travelled to the Etihad Stadium for their first match in 102 days following the league's suspension and there were some significant talking points from his starting line-up.

Experienced defender David Luiz, approaching the end of his contract, was left out of the starting lineup, while Mesut Ozil was not included in the squad despite an expanded nine-man bench.

Luiz did have to replace the injured Pablo Mari midway through the first half, with Granit Xhaka also going off injured in the opening period of the game.

Speaking ahead of the match, Arteta's response hinted that a more in-depth explanation would follow after the final whistle.

"There are a few things that have happened in recent weeks. I have to pick the team that in my opinion is the best to compete today and that's what I have done," he told Sky Sports.

Sky presenter David Jones added that they have been told that Arteta would address Ozil's absence after the game, adding more fuel to the debate.

Luiz has been a regular fixture for Arsenal this season, making 32 appearances across all competitions, while Ozil has appeared on 23 occasions.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.