Mesut Ozil to be excluded from Arsenal's Premier League squad?

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta could reportedly exclude Mesut Ozil from the club's Premier League squad later this month.

The Premier League rules permit only 17 non-homegrown players in the 25-man squad and the Gunners currently have 19 such players in their ranks.

Hence, they will need to leave out a couple of players and Goal.com reports that Ozil could be one of those omitted when the squad is picked on October 20.

The German is currently the club's highest earner at £350,000-a-week, but he has played no part for the Gunners following the lockdown.

He has been training with the first-team squad on a regular basis, but it is quite clear that he is not in the plans of the manager.

Aside from Ozil, Sokratis could be another player to be excluded from the squad, considering he has been deemed surplus to requirements.

The Greek was linked with a possible move to Napoli, but a deal failed to materialise due to his reluctance to take a paycut.

Both Sokratis and Ozil have their contracts expiring next summer.