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[Photos] No sign of key player, Ozil all smiles: Arsenal squad flies out to Milan
There was no sign of Hector Bellerin as the Arsenal squad flew out of Luton airport this afternoon ahead of tomorrow night’s clash with AC Milan.
Bellerin was photographed taking part in training this morning and he was expected to be recalled to the starting eleven tomorrow night after being rested against Brighton at the weekend.
However, the Mirror claim that Bellerin has been ruled out of our Europa League last-16 first leg tie and Sunday’s Premier League clash with Watford due to a niggling knee injury.
It seems that report is accurate as there was no sign of Bellerin as the rest of the squad flew out of Luton airport this afternoon en route to Milan ahead of the game.
It’s a big blow to be without the Spanish international as we have no reliable back-up so it looks like Calum Chambers will have to deputise at right-back tomorrow night.
Obviously Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hasn’t travelled to Italy as he’s ineligible so with Alexander Lacazette out injured, youngster Eddie Nketiah has been drafted in to the squad.
Mesut Ozil looked distinctly unimpressed by our defeat at Brighton on Sunday but the German playmaker was all smiles as he posted for a photo with Mohamed Elneny this afternoon. Let’s hope for a better display from our star-man tomorrow night.
Here are some photos of the players as they flew out to Milan courtesy of Arsenal’s Getty Images account: