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Mesut Ozil sat out Arsenal’s trip to Newcastle today due to a shoulder injury but wasn’t neglecting his duties as an Arsenal player as he cheered on his team mates at home.

The German international posted a picture on his Facebook profile of him watching the Gunners at home and was tweeting regularly, although he probably wishes he was playing in their crucial last game of 2013.

Worryingly for Arsenal fans is that Arsene Wenger revealed that Ozil could be out for a couple of games as he spoke to the TV cameras before kick-off.

Per Mertesacker has lifted the lid on his argument with Mesut Ozil that followed the 6-3 defeat to Manchester City away at the Etihad Stadium.

Normally regarded as a very calm customer, the defender was seen berating his fellow countryman after the defeat, when it appeared Ozil did not acknowledge the away support at the end of the match.

It says a great deal about Mertesacker that he clearly understands the traditions of the club and holds the Arsenal support in high value.

On the incident with Ozil, Mertesacker commented:

‘It can't just be all happiness, peace and pancakes. If it is then you won't develop as a team. The good thing is that Mesut and I know each other well from our time at Bremen. We can be honest with each other’.

Arsenal go to a fortress St James’ Park in confidence having picked up the joint most points away from home this season (19).

However, Newcastle have not lost on their home turf since the 21st September, where Hull shocked them in a 3-2 win.

Boxing Day saw both sides take all three points as Arsenal eventually broke down a resurgent West Ham while Newcastle wow-ed their support with a 5-1 win against 9-man Stoke. Dubious refereeing decisions saw Stoke depleted and were shown no mercy as Hatem Ben Arfa, Yoan Gouffran, Papiss Cisse and Loic Remy out them to the sword.

They are now unbeaten in 4 with wins against Manchester United and Crystal Palace lifting them to 7th in the standings.

French striker Olivier Giroud had a barnstorming start to the season, netting 7 times in the Gunners’ opening fixtures. He has enjoyed his best spell at the club since signing in 2012, however the frontman has showed signs of fatigue recently.

So far, Nicklas Bendtner has been the only deputy to Giroud’s spot, with the Dane striking once against Hull in the League. However, everyone and anyone involved with the Arsenal football club knows that Mr Bendtner is simply not good enough for the side now challenging for the title.

And so begins Arsene Wenger’s search for a top striker, to either play second fiddle to Giroud or even take over the striker’s first team position.

Forget Diego Costa

Atletico Madrid’s heroic striker Diego Costa has taken most of the headlines in Spain this season, topping the top goalscorers table with 19 from his 17 appearances.

It’s not long now until the opening of the Premier League’s January transfer window, a transfer period which can either be the making or breaking of a side halfway through the season.

The opening stint of the Premiership season has been a fragmented one, with International breaks splitting gameweeks frequently; however the January transfer window signifies a chance to develop the squad for that crucial run-in.

Transfer rumours are at their most frequent during January, with big money moves reported left, right and centre. However most of these rumours end as just that, with cautious managers not wanting to upset the balance of their side midway through a campaign.

Arsenal do not escape these rumours, despite sitting at the top of the League with a seemingly sufficiently reinforced squad.