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Mesut Ozil injury: Arsenal midfielder ruled out for a week with 'minor knee injury' after missing Newcastle game

Ozil missed the Premier League trip to Newcastle and adds to the Gunners' injury troubles

Jack de Menezes

Saturday 29 August 2015 14:59 BST

Mesut Ozil in action during Arsenal's defeat by West Ham

Mesut Özil missed Arsenal's Premier League encounter at Newcastle after suffering what was described by the club as a "minor knee injury".

The 26-year-old playmaker has started all four of Arsenal’s matches this season, including the Community Shield triumph over Chelsea earlier this month, but he was a notable absentee on the team-sheet at St James’ Park on Saturday.

With Olivier Giroud dropped to the bench, it was immediately clear that Özil had not suffered a similar fate given he was not included among the substitutes, and manager Arsene Wenger soon confirmed that the Germany international had suffered a knee injury.

Newcastle 0 Arsenal 1 player ratings

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Newcastle 0 Arsenal 1 player ratings

Newcastle: Tim Krul - 8

Colossal performance: superb saves to denied Walcott and Sanchez, and he was left helpless by the deflected goal.

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Daryl Janmaat - 7

Was one of Newcastle's few bright sparks in the first half, stifling Sanchez and getting forward well.

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Newcastle 0 Arsenal 1 player ratings

Chancel Mbemba - 7

One of six bookings for the hosts, but made repeated last-ditch blocks and carried the ball forward out of defence well.

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Fabricio Coloccini - 7

Marshalled the brave Newcastle defence well, and was desperately unlucky with the own goal. Unfortunate booking.

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Massadio Haidara - 6

Struggled to cope with Oxlade-Chamberlain and Bellerin early, but recovered as the game went on.

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Vurnon Anita - 5

One of several players to pick up a soft booking and failed to prevent Arsenal winning the midfield battle before being subbed.

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Newcastle 0 Arsenal 1 player ratings

Jack Colback - 6

Typically hardworking, but didn't get as much possession as he would like as Arsenal dominated.

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Moussa Sissoko - 7

Possibly lucky to escape a red card for early tackle on Monreal, but covered ground tirelessly in defence and attack.

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Georginio Wijnaldum - 5

Neat in possession, but didn't make an impact going forward. Another silly booking.

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Florian Thauvin - 6

Some lively moments suggested he could be a decent signing, but he lacked an end product.

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Aleksandar Mitrovic - 3

Stupid, reckless tackle deserved a red card, which effectively ended his side's hopes of victory.

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Arsenal: Petr Cech - 6

Even in Chelsea's heyday, has he ever had to do less in a Premier League game?

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Hector Bellerin - 8

Got forward brilliantly in the first half and was unlucky not to win a penalty. Solid defensively.

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Gabriel Paulista - 7

Little to do, but pulled out a crucial interception from a Thauvin cross and was a threat at set-pieces.

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Laurent Koscielny - 7

What little he had to do he did well, and was a calming influence on his return.

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Nacho Monreal - 7

Typically unruffled defensively, and combines well with Sanchez.

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Francis Coquelin - 6

Arsenal's ascendancy meant he was barely needed in the holding role - drew a series of bizarrely reckless tackles from Newcastle players.

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Santi Cazorla - 7

Passed the ball well from his deep-lying role, and got forward more as the game opened up in the second half.

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Aaron Ramsey - 8

Excelled in a more advanced role, causing Newcastle problems with direct running and forcing a smart save that led to the crucial goal.

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Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - 8

Was lively throughout, particularly in the opening stages, and his low drive created the goal.

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Alexis Sanchez - 7

Not as influential as might have been expected in the first half, but came into game more after the break and was only denied a goal by the excellent Krul.

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Theo Walcott - 6

Should have scored with two clear-cut first-half chances, but at least he's getting into good positions. The jury is still out on him as a central striker.

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However, Wenger was quick to allay any long-term fears over Özil and revealed that he expects to World Cup winner to be out for around a week, with Arsenal’s next fixture not for another two weeks due to the international break.

Özil suffered a bad knee injury last season after hearing a crack in his knee during the 2-0 defeat to Chelsea, but Wenger confirmed that this latest blow was not a recurrence of that issue.

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