Mesut Ozil not included in Germany squad with Arsene Wenger welcoming the decision
Sunday 6 November 2016 18:13, UK
Mesut Ozil has been left out of Germany's squad for their World Cup Qualifier after Arsene Wenger claimed it would be wise to do so.
Ozil, 28, has been in excellent form for Arsenal in recent weeks, culminating with a superb solo winner against Ludogorets in the Champions League on Tuesday to give the Gunners a late 3-2 win.
Germany face San Marino in a World Cup Qualifier on November 11 before a friendly against Italy on November 15 and have named a squad which includes Manchester City's Ilkay Gundogan.
However, with Arsenal set for a tough away fixture against Manchester United on November 19, live on Sky Sports 1, and then a Champions League tie at home to Paris Saint-Germain four days later, it seems Germany boss Joachim Low has decided to leave Ozil out ahead of a gruelling festive period.
"I think it would be an intelligent decision and I would welcome it," Wenger said at his press conference on Thursday. "We have to wait until he (Joachim Low) gives the selection out to see if Mesut gets a rest or not."
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Ahead of the international break Ozil is likely to be involved as Arsenal host Tottenham in the north London derby at the Emirates.
Watch San Marino v Germany live on Sky Sports Mix from 7.40pm on Friday, November 11.
Full Germany squad:
Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Bernd Leno (Bayer Leverkusen), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona).
Defenders: Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Yannick Gerhardt (Wolfsburg), Jonas Hector (Cologne), Benjamin Henrichs (Bayer Leverkusen), Benedikt Howedes (Schalke), Mats Hummels, Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Shkodran Mustafi (Arsenal), Sebastian Rudy (Hoffenheim), Jonathan Tah (Bayer Leverkusen).
Midfielders/Forwards: Julian Brandt (Bayer Leverkusen), Serge Gnabry (Werder Bremen), Mario Gomez (Wolfsburg), Leon Goretzka (Schalke), Mario Gotze (Borussia Dortmund), Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City), Sami Khedira (Juventus), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Max Meyer (Schalke), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Kevin Volland (Bayer Leverkusen), Julian Weigl (Borussia Dortmund).
