Arsenal get a much-needed break from Premier League action tonight, and the goal-shy Gunners could certainly do with added cutting edge in the final third.
But Mikel Arteta will not be able to call on Mesut Ozil for the Carabao Cup quarter-final against Manchester City.
The Germany international has been exiled from the Arsenal squad all season, and EFL rules mean he is unavailable for tonight's cup tie at the Emirates.
Ozil, the club's highest earner, has not been named in Arteta's 25-man squad for the Premier League, meaning he is also barred from cup action until January at the earliest – when clubs are able to revise their named squad.
Carabao Cup competition rule 6.1 states only "registered players", those named in a club's league squad, are eligible to feature in the tournament.
'6.1 In all rounds of the Competition a player shall be a “registered player” of his Club, as defined in Rule 6.2 below,' a statement via the EFL website reads.
'6.2 A registered player is one who would be registered and eligible to participate in a Premier League match and/or League Match (as defined in The League Regulations) commencing at the same time and on the same date as the Competition match in accordance with The Premier League Regulations and/or The League Regulations, or would have been but for the operation of Premier League Rule U.1.1 or League Regulation 43.9 (as amended from time to time).'
As a result, the former Germany international can only feature in the competition if Arsenal reach the semi-final and he's registered in the Premier League squad next month.
Ozil's exile has been all the more galling for some Arsenal supporters following comments from last week, who told a fans' forum the club were looking to add a playmaker in the January window.
Arsenal have scored just 12 goals in 14 league games, and they slipped to their eighth defeat of the Premier League campaign at Everton on Saturday, where a mix of ineffective final third play and poor finishing saw them suffer a 2-1 defeat.
"It’s quite clear what we need," Edu said. "We need a player with creativity in the middle, we don’t have that in the squad right now."
Ozil, for many Gunners fans, fills that void, but the earliest he can be reintegrated to the squad is next month.
Even then, his chances of playing for the club again appear remote.
