Arsenal news: Mesut Ozil and Sead Kolasinac return to Arsenal training following security scare

Mesut Ozil and Sead Kolasinac back in training with Arsenal as club hope they will be cleared to play soon after being caught up in gang war in wake of attempted carjacking

  • Sead Kolasinac and Mesut Ozil were victims of an attempted carjacking
  • Further security incidents saw the pair miss Sunday’s win over Newcastle
  • The pair have now returned to training after bolstering security at their homes 

Mesut Ozil and Sead Kolasinac have returned to training after being stood down from duty on Sunday, with Arsenal optimistic the pair will be cleared to play again soon.

The Gunners pulled the duo out of the squad that travelled to Newcastle last weekend due to ‘further security incidents’ after the frightening scenes when the players were the victims of an attempted carjacking by two knife-wielding thugs at the end of last month.

Sportsmail revealed on Tuesday that Arsenal feared the pair could be forced to miss more games due to an escalation in gang-related threats towards them that were largely out of the club’s control.

Mesut Ozil was spotted for the first time on Wednesday since he and his Arsenal team-mate Sead Kolasinac got caught up in gang war

The Gunners duo, pictured during pre-season in Los Angeles, have now returned to training

The Gunners duo, pictured during pre-season in Los Angeles, have now returned to training 

 But while Arsenal remain apprehensive, there appeared to be positive developments yesterday when the duo reported for duty at the club’s London Colney HQ.

Security staff and dogs have been spotted outside both players’ houses in recent days, but Kolasinac arrived at training as a passenger of team-mate Shkodran Mustafi. Ozil, meanwhile, arrived in one of his luxury cars but in the back, and driven by an unknown figure. 

Ozil was one of the first senior players to leave the training ground around lunchtime while the rest of his team-mates remained inside, including some who were involved with club media duties.

Mustafi left not long after but without Kolasinac. The Bosnian was a passenger in one of the flurry of blacked-out vehicles that exited Arsenal’s HQ later in the day.

While the regular patrol of police cars along the road outside the training ground appeared to be coincidental, it helped grow confidence that the situation is now being brought under control.

While a member of the Arsenal security team was stationed by the entrance to the training ground on Tuesday, he was not required yesterday. Arsenal, however, were keen to avoid releasing any footage of their players entering the training ground and thereby confirming their whereabouts.

The Arsenal duo were recently the victims of an attempted carjacking after training in London

The Arsenal duo were recently the victims of an attempted carjacking after training in London

Ozil has hired security personnel to guard his property in West Hampsted 24 hours a day

Ozil has hired security personnel to guard his property in West Hampsted 24 hours a day

Arsenal are hopeful Kolasinac and Ozil will return to action for Saturday's clash with Burnley

Arsenal are hopeful Kolasinac and Ozil will return to action for Saturday’s clash with Burnley

It remains to be seen whether Ozil and Kolasinac will be available for Saturday’s Premier League clash against Burnley at the Emirates.

But there is growing hope that the threats will ease off enough for the players to be available for selection sooner rather than later.

Two men were arrested outside Ozil’s house in north London last week and the threat to the World Cup winner is said to be so serious that he hired 24-hour protection.

Guaranteeing their safety while on club duty will provide Arsenal with obvious logistical difficulties and the club have been in contact with police.

 



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