Mesut Ozil Injury: Updates on Arsenal Star's Knee and Return

Updates from Sunday, Jan. 11

Arsenal welcomed Mesut Ozil back to the pitch for the first time since Oct. 5:

The club previously announced prior to the match Ozil was in a substitute role against Stoke today:

On Friday, Arsene Wenger confirmed Ozil would be available, courtesy of James Olley of the London Evening Standard:

Updates from Tuesday, Dec. 23

Arsene Wenger expects Mesut Ozil to return in January as the Germany international nears the end of his recovery from a serious knee injury.

Arsenal's official Twitter brought the latest:

Updates from Thursday, Dec. 18

Mesut Ozil has told Arsenal fans "it won't be long" until he is back in action following the serious knee injury that has sidelined him for the past three months.

Ozil told Arsenal Player (h/t Daily Mirror):

"

I am working every day to get myself fit and I am on the right path now. It won't be much too much longer before I am back on the pitch.

I hope to be back training with the whole team again as soon as possible.

"

Updates from Saturday, Dec. 13

Ozil returned to training this week, according to Jack Bezants of the Daily Mail:

"

Mesut Ozil could be in line for an earlier comeback than the 2015 date Arsenal have scheduled him in for following an injury to his knee ligaments in October.

The World Cup winner has been pictured heading to training alongside goalkeepers Wojciech Szczesny and Damian Martinez - an image that will be an early Christmas gift to all Arsenal fans.

"

Updates from Monday, Dec. 1

Mesut Ozil is currently back in Germany as he continues his recovery from his latest knee injury.

Eurosport tweeted the latest:

Updates from Monday, Nov. 17

Arsene Wenger has confirmed January will be the target for Mesut Ozil's return from a knee injury, and the Arsenal boss predicts the German will soon rediscover his best form.

Talking to beINSport, Wenger said, per Alex Richards of the Daily Mirror:

"

He will not be back until January. He came back from the World Cup with an injury.

He had a very good first season with us. I think we will see the best of Ozil in the seasons to come.

"

Updates from Thursday, Nov. 13

Mesut Ozil's knee injury will keep him out for a further seven weeks, ensuring he doesn't kick a ball in competitive action again this year.

Arsene Wenger, speaking on Oct. 16, said the Germany faced a minimum of six weeks' recovery, but that figure has now been revised by Ozil himself, per Jamie Sanderson of the Metro:

"

I have already been out for five weeks and will be out for another seven weeks.

That is a really long time but that is the way it is in football sometimes. My head is held high and we look forward.

"

Updates from Friday, Oct. 31

Mesut Ozil continues to keep Arsenal fans up to date with his recovery from a knee injury, posting yet more pictures on social media.

Ozil is clearly aiming to keep his fitness levels high despite being restricted by a knee brace:

Updates from Thursday, Oct. 23

Mesut Ozil updated fans on his recovery via his Instagram account:

Updates from Thursday, Oct. 16

Arsene Wenger has put a minimum of six weeks on Mesut Ozil's injury, but insists he did not know of the knee problem during the Chelsea game, contrary to reports.

Squawka and Miguel Delaney of ESPN FC provide the updates:

Updates from Wednesday, Oct. 15 

Metro's Massimo Marioni provides an update on Mesut Ozi's injury: 

Updates from Tuesday, Oct. 14

Mesut Ozil has vowed to return as soon as possible from the knee injury that appears to have ruled him out for the rest of the year.

Ozil tweeted:

Jack Wilshere admits the Arsenal squad is gutted to lose the Germany international, per the Daily Mirror's John Cross: 

"

We are devastated for Mesut because he can play in that No. 10, we have seen what he can do at No. 10. We have players who can come in.

It's tough to take but it is part and parcel of football. I have had my fair few injuries. It is not a curse it happens and you just have to deal with it.

It will be hard for him (Ozil) because he likes football, he has never really had an injury before. He had a slight one last season.

I am not even sure how long it is, I've not been back to the club. It will be difficult for him. But he is naturally quite a fit lad so he will be alright.

"

Updates from Thursday, Oct. 9

Mesut Ozil has posted a brief message to thank Arsenal and Germany fans for their support following news that he could be out for three months.

Ozil has knee ligament damage, but tweeted on Thursday:

Arsene Wenger commented on Arsenal.com about Ozil's status:

"

'When he arrived with the German national team, they didn’t think it was a lot at the start,' the manager said. "He was supposed to practice on Wednesday but, in the end, he said that wasn’t possible for him.

'Then he had a scan and it was bad news. We have our own specialist giving us his opinion after reading the scan and examining Mesut. We will follow our own recommendations.'

"

Updates from Wednesday, Oct. 8

Mesut Ozil has been ruled out for up to 12 weeks after having a scan on knee ligament damage while with the Germany national setup.

News first broke of Ozil's scan on Wednesday morning, but the official German Twitter account has delivered the following update:

Arsenal later released a statement regarding Ozil's condition:

"

Arsenal can confirm that midfielder Mesut Ozil is returning to London from international duty with Germany after picking up a knee injury during Sunday’s game at Chelsea.

Ozil complained of a sore left knee after the game and the club advised the German FA to run medical checks when he joined up with his international squad.

The club will make further assessments and it is too early to say how long Ozil may be out of action.

"

Original Text

Mesut Ozil's already stuttering season has taken a fresh blow amid reports the Arsenal and Germany schemer is dealing with a knee injury. The inconsistent playmaker is supposed to be helping his World Cup-winning international teammates negotiate a pair of Euro 2016 qualifiers against Poland and Republic of Ireland.

Instead, Ozil will undergo a procedure to detail the extent of his knee problems. The German national team's official Twitter account has details:

Ozil's potential omission needn't be a problem for Germany. The ultra-talented squad is already brimming with talented attacking midfielders who can take his place.

Young duo Mario Gotze and Julian Draxler can certainly fill the void in terms of creativity and goals.

Felice Calabro'/Associated Press

However, Ozil's absence will be a blow to Arsenal. It would represent one more bump in the road toward manager Arsene Wenger trying to get the best from the club's record signing.

Ozil's top form has been a rare sighting for the Gunners since he signed for £42.5 million from Real Madrid last summer. His lacklustre showings have made the 25-year-old a favourite target for disappointed pundits this season.

After Arsenal's recent 2-0 defeat at Premier League leaders Chelsea, Sky Sports analyst Jamie Carragher became the latest to lament Ozil's struggles:

Carragher has even suggested that Wenger lacks trust in the mercurial Ozil to deliver in big games:

There have also been reports that Wenger may have considered ditching Ozil after just one season. He allegedly declined a bid from FC Bayern Munich this summer, per Spanish publication El Confidencial (h/t Daily Mirror reporter Aaron Flanagan).

The Gunners boss may now turn to Santi Cazorla and Tomas Rosicky to cover for Ozil if he's sidelined for a prolonged period.

Ozil needs games to both prove his critics wrong and justify the massive investment Wenger made in him. With key midfielders Aaron Ramsey and Mikel Arteta already on the shelf, the last thing Wenger needs is to lose more options at the position.

Wenger will be as anxious as Ozil about the results of that MRI.