Arsenal manager Unai Emery declined to publicly assure Mesut Ozil’s future at the Emirates Stadium after once more leaving the playmaker out of his first-team plans.
Ozil was excluded from the Gunners’ matchday squad as they faced north London rivals Tottenham in Wednesday’s Carabao Cup tie.
Without the former Germany international Spurs ran out 2-0 winners , Heung-Min Son and Dele Alli scoring for Mauricio Pochettino’s team.
But Emery repeatedly dodged questions on the possibility of a sale in January while insisting the decision was “tactical”.
“My focus is analysing this match and Saturday,” he responded when asked about whether Ozil could depart Arsenal.
“It was a tactical decision because I thought the players today with us were for us the best for this match.”
According to the boss, Ozil was present in the Emirates on Wednesday to see his team-mates go down to the club’s fiercest rivals.
