MESUT OZIL will miss Arsenal's clash against Crystal Palace (4pm).
Mesut Ozil, who has been in exceptional form this season, is unwell.
Ozil, who scored the match-winner in Arsenal's last outing against West Brom on Boxing Day, will sit out today's game due to flu.
Instead, Lucas Perez has been handed a rare start against the Eagles.
We've seen a lot of tweets about this, so to clarify...@MesutOzil1088 misses #AFCvCPFC due to illness pic.twitter.com/mrHON4I0mq
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) January 1, 2017
Meanwhile, former Gunner Mathieu Flamini returns to face his old side.
Arsenal are currently 12 points behind table toppers Chelsea.
Tottenham leapfrogged them and are now up to third after their 4-1 victory against Watford.
However, Arsene Wenger's men could go back above their bitter north London rivals should they overcome Palace.