Arsenal said the duo would not play in the squad's first Premier League match, citing the players' safety following "further security incidents." This follows a carjacking attempt fended off by Kolasinac two weeks ago.
(FILE) Sead Kolasinac and Mesut Özil pictured on 1 May 2019 (picture-alliance/PA Wire/N. French)Image: picture-alliance/PA Wire/N. French
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Arsenal stars Mesut Özil and Sead Kolasinac will not play in the team's Premier League opener this weekend because of "further security incidents" involving the police, according to a statement from the club on Friday. This follows the players' making international headlines two weeks ago, when they were the victim of an attempted carjacking, only for Kolasinac to fend off the attackers with the help of passersby.
"The welfare of our players and their families is always a top priority and we have taken this decision following discussion with the players and their representatives," according to the statement, which noted that the latest incidents were being investigated by police.
"We are liaising with the police and are providing the players and their families with ongoing support," the statement read. The team anticipates welcoming the players back to the squad "as soon as possible."
Arsenal travels north to face off against Newcastle on Sunday.
German exports to the Premier League
While the wait for the Bundesliga continues, the Premier League begins this weekend, with up to nine Germans potentially involved in the opener. New faces and big names, here are Germany's Premier League representatives.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/A. Ruiz
The loanee
After losing his Schalke spot to emerging young talent Alexander Nübel, Ralf Fährmann has left his boyhood club to try and make his mark in England, for a season at least. His new coach calls him "still one of the best German keepers" but the former Schalke captain will have to displace Dutch international Tim Krul between the sticks for newly promoted Norwich City.
Image: Getty Images/S. Pond
The newcomer
That coach's name is Daniel Farke. The Norwich boss joined the Canaries from Borussia Dortmund's reserves two years ago and secured a surprise promotion, and league title, last season. The 42-year-old has installed a German spine to his team, and Fährmann is joined in the squad by seven playing compatriots.
Image: Reuters/A. Holt
So many Germans
Onel Hernandez, Dennis Sbeny, Christoph Zimmermann, Tom Trybull, Marco Stiepermann, Philip Heise and Moritz Leitner may not be household names in Germany but at the club in the east of England they and their coach have their own song: "All the Germans, so many Germans, they all go hand in hand, hand in hand through their Farke-life." To Blur's 'Parklife' in case you didn't pick it.
Image: Reuters/A. Holt
The title winner?
Jürgen Klopp is another man who inspires song in his admirers, in his case there's plenty of both. After securing a Champions League winner's medal and breaking his long trophy drought last season, the Liverpool coach wants the same thing as the fans - to end the 30 year wait for the Premier League title.
Image: Reuters/C. Recine
The one with plenty to prove
What is realistically expected of Shkordan Mustafi this season? Firstly, to make fewer mistakes. The center back, 27, has become a figure of fun at Arsenal and the signing of David Luiz from Chelsea is likely to send him further down the pecking order. Rumors of interest from Monaco have swirled in recent days.
Image: Getty Images/M. Regan
The number one
Bernd Leno stands in contrast to Mustafi as the established first choice for his position at Arsenal. The goalkeeper took a while to displace now-retired Petr Cech last term before making the spot his own. He's now taken the No. 1 jersey and will be hoping to improve a leaky defense.
Image: Getty Images/M. Regan
The opinion divider
But the best know of Arsenal's German contingent remains Mesut Özil. The playmaker divides opinion like few others, some see a lethargic luxury and others a skilled footballer with vision beyond compare. The truth, as always, is somewhere in between. The 2014 World Cup winner is still yet to win a trophy with the Gunners and must also win the trust of coach Unai Emery.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/A. Ruiz
The talk of the transfer window
Will he or won't he? Endless transfer talk was devoted to whether or not Leroy Sane, the Premier League's young player of the year in 2017-18, would move to Bayern Munich. The skillful winger seemed to have lost the trust of Pep Guardiola towards the end of last season, making a transfer possible. But a cruciate ligament injury seems to have put an end to any move, for now at least.
Image: picture alliance/dpa/A. Davy
The metronome
Despite winning the domestic treble with Manchester City last season, Ilkay Gündogan's future looked uncertain, with contract talks stalling despite his increased importance to Pep Guardiola's side. The midfielder showed great adaptability to perform a deeper lying role last term without losing any of his influence and duly signed a new four-year deal just before the start of the season.
Image: Imago Images/Action Plus/J. P. Fletcher
The man under the radar
Pascal Gross spent two years at Ingolstadt before joining Brighton and Hove Albion when the German outfit were relegated in 2017. The 28-year-old has become a regular in the Seagulls midfield, with his dead ball delivery proving a key weapon for a side who have battled against the drop. How Gross fits into new coach Graham Potter's system is, for now, an open question.
Image: Getty Images/M. Atkins
The recuperated
Though Chelsea's 2018-19 season ended in Europa League glory, Antonio Rüdiger was forced to watch it from the stands as a result of a knee injury which required surgery. The center back looks set to be a key man under new coach Frank Lampard, especially with the departure of David Luiz. He will also hope to nail down a place in the national team, which he hasn't quite achieved yet.
Image: picture-alliance
The talent
A strong dribbler who's confident on the ball in tight spaces, for a long time Max Meyer was one of German football's great hopes for the future. He made his Schalke debut at 17 and was in the national team a year later. Since then, things have stalled a little. His free transfer to Crystal Palace didn't quite work out last year and his last Germany cap was in November 2016.
Image: Getty Images/M. Atkins
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Both Kolasinac and Özil, an attacking midfielder and one of Germany's 2014 World Cup winners, played for the Gunners in a friendly against Barcelona last weekend.
In surveillance video that later circulated online, Kolasinac — a left back with the Bosnian national team — is seen fending off masked, knife-wielding men on a motorbike. That investigation is ongoing.
Arsenal made no mention as to the nature of the further security incidents, concluding by saying: "We will not be making any further comment on the matter."