Lengthy lay-off for Ozil

Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil could be ruled out for up to 12 weeks after picking up a knee injury in Sunday’s Premier League defeat to Chelsea.

Ozil joined up with the German national squad this week but was sent for an MRI scan in Munich yesterday after complaining of soreness in his left knee.

The German FA claims Ozil’s injury will rule him out for “10 to 12 weeks” although the Gunners say it is too early to put a timescale on his recovery process.

A scan revealed a partial rupture of the outer band of the left knee joint. “The treatment is conservative, with six weeks of immobilisation of the knee joint. Mesut Ozil is likely to be (out for) 10 to 12 weeks.”

As a result, Ozil will miss Germany’s clash with theRepublic of Ireland next Tuesday.

The news is another blow for Gunners boss Arsene Wenger, who has seen midfielders Aaron Ramsey and Mikel Arteta pick up injuries in recent weeks.

Ramsey will be out of action for another three to four weeks with a hamstring complaint although Wenger was slightly more upbeat about Arteta, who could return after the international break following a calf problem.