Germany Coach Delivers Update on Arsenal Star Ozil's Illness

Joachim Low has hinted that Arsenal star Mesut Ozil could be in contention for Germany's international friendly fixture against Italy at San Siro on Friday.

The former Real Madrid midfielder was suffering from illness after Arsenal's 1-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester United at Old Trafford. Ozil travelled to Germany and joined the national squad in Munich ahead of their two international friendly fixtures against Italy and England.

The German newspaper Bild reported that Arsenal duo of Ozil and Per Mertesacker, along with Miroslav Klose remains doubtful for the tie against Italy and England. However, Low has admitted the former Madrid star is "doing much better" and could be in the squad to face Cesare Prandelli's side.

"Mesut is doing better. I assume that he will be fully resilient in final practice," Low said, as quoted in the German newspaper Bild.

Meanwhile, the Mirror earlier reported that Ozil could be a doubtful for Germany's clash against England as Low is likely to use the midfielder in one of the two fixtures scheduled in a week's time.

Mertesacker was ruled out during the league defeat against the Premier League champions due to illness. The Mirror suggests the same bug has caught Ozil and is believed to be the reason for his illness.

Another report from the Mirror suggests that the Gunners defender is set to miss his side's tie against Italy, but could be fit for Germany's trip to Wembley as Low's men take on England on Tuesday.

Ozil was pictured leaving a nightclub in London after Arsenal's 1-0 loss to David Moyes' side at Old Trafford. The midfielder caught the flu the day after the Gunners' defeat against United.

The German international was quick to shrug off the reports suggesting his time at the nightclub was the reason for his illness.

"We are late back from Manchester, then I went to eat and drink something. But that had nothing to do with the fact that I had to sign off on the next day with flu. I felt in the game against Manchester still totally fit and played for 90 minutes," Ozil explained.