Arsenal blow with Mesut Ozil set to miss fifth game in row with back injury

Mesut Ozil is set to be ruled out of Arsenal’s home clash against Huddersfield on Saturday as he continues to struggle with a back injury.

The 30-year-old midfielder has missed the past four matches, having been left out for the win at Bournemouth before suffering back spasms which ruled him out of the Europa League clash against Vorskla Poltava, Sunday’s win over Tottenham and last night’s 2-2 draw at Manchester United.

Arsenal head coach Unai Emery confirmed this week that Ozil was training away from the first-team group but it is understood he is unlikely to be able to start the League match against Huddersfield this weekend and could once again miss out altogether.

Aaron Ramsey appears to be a major doubt after being forced off at half-time with a twisted ankle.

There was some confusion during the game last night as the club initially described the Welshman’s substitution as tactical, but he was in fact unable to continue due to a problem sustained towards the end of the first half.

Rob Holding was stretchered off with what Emery described as a “big” knee injury and is being assessed at London Colney to determine the extent of the damage. Meanwhile, Sokratis Papastathopoulos hailed Arsenal’s togetherness after overcoming individual errors to secure a point at Old Trafford.

The Gunners have not won a Premier League game there since 2006 and were twice pegged back last night after Anthony Martial cancelled out Shkodran Mustafi’s 26th-minute opener before United responded to Marcus Rojo’s own-goal with Jesse Lingard’s equaliser.

Emery’s side extended their unbeaten run to 20 matches and centre-back Sokratis said: “It was a difficult game. We fought a lot. We were unlucky because we started to play good in the first half but we had two injured [players] and we had to change so it was not easy for us.

“But I am happy we fought, we played good and we look forward.”

Holding failed to cut out Ander Herrera’s cross for Martial’s goal while Sead Kolasinac was unable to deal with a routine ball into the box, allowing Lingard to pounce seconds after the Gunners had gone 2-1 up.

“In every game, mistakes [can] happen but it is good we stayed together and fought together,” added Sokratis.

“Our focus is to get into the first four. This gives us confidence because 20 games is a lot that we didn’t lose.

“But we have to look forward and win the next games.”