Arsenal team news: Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey not included in squad for Europa League encounter at BATE Borisov

Arsenal duo Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey have not travelled to Belarus with the Gunners squad for their Europa League last-32 game against BATE Borisov.

Ozil, who missed their 2-1 victory at Huddersfield last weekend through illness.

Meanwhile Ramsey, who signed a pre-contract agreement with Juventus earlier this week, missed training on Wednesday with a knee injury.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who also missed the Huddersfield game with illness has travelled to Belarus as has Granit Xhaka, who returns after a groin injury.

Gunners boss Unai Emery was asked about the continued absence of the club’s highest-earner Ozil at a press conference on Wednesday.

Ozil has been on the periphery of the Arsenal team since the Spaniard came in but Emery insisted the decision to leave the No.10 behind was not a tactical one.

Emery said: “The players we didn’t bring in the squad were because Aaron Ramsey did not train with us and Sokratis (Papastathopoulos) only started training yesterday and today – I don’t think it’s enough.

“Mesut is the same. Aubameyang, after he was sick, trained on Monday, yesterday and today, and I think he’s OK for the match.”

You can listen to commentary of BATE vs Arsenal live on talkSPORT 2 on Thursday, kick-off 5:55pm.