Pressed three times on the situation and specifically asked about whether Ozil might be sold, Emery merely repeated that he is concentrating on Arsenal’s next matches.

Ozil has already been left out of a series of games this season – particularly those away from home, with the manager having cited physical concerns. With talk already growing that a difference has developed between coach and player over his tactical role in the team, Emery did not take any steps to play down such talk when offered.

Player Ratings: Arsenal vs Tottenham Carabao Cup quarter-final Show all 22 1 / 22 Player Ratings: Arsenal vs Tottenham Carabao Cup quarter-final Player Ratings: Arsenal vs Tottenham Carabao Cup quarter-final Petr Cech Got forward well at times but his final ball was lacking in quality. The Arsenal goalkeeper couldn’t do a lot about Spurs’ goals but looks unlikely to displace Bernd Leno as first-choice goalkeeper anytime soon. Getty Images Player Ratings: Arsenal vs Tottenham Carabao Cup quarter-final Ainsley Maitland-Niles - 6 out of 10 Back in a more familiar role tonight but he didn’t have the best of matches. Action Images via Reuters Player Ratings: Arsenal vs Tottenham Carabao Cup quarter-final Sokratis Papastathopoulos - 5 out of 10 An average showing from Arsenal’s centre-back’s. AFP/Getty Images Player Ratings: Arsenal vs Tottenham Carabao Cup quarter-final Granit Xhaka - 5 out of 10 Granit Xhaka is not a central defender. Booked late on after losing his cool with the linesman Action Images via Reuters Player Ratings: Arsenal vs Tottenham Carabao Cup quarter-final Nacho Monreal - 6 out of 10 Got forward well at times but his final ball was lacking in quality. AFP/Getty Images Player Ratings: Arsenal vs Tottenham Carabao Cup quarter-final Matteo Guendouzi - 7 out of 10 Didn’t do too much wrong. Was one of Arsenal’s better performers in the first half. Action Images via Reuters Player Ratings: Arsenal vs Tottenham Carabao Cup quarter-final Lucas Torreira - 6 out of 10 One of Arsenal’s better performers but still not his best night. AP Player Ratings: Arsenal vs Tottenham Carabao Cup quarter-final Henrikh Mkhitaryan - 5 out of 10 Missed a golden opportunity to put the Gunners in front in the first half. Getty Images Player Ratings: Arsenal vs Tottenham Carabao Cup quarter-final Aaron Ramsey - 5 out of 10 The Arsenal fans were not happy with him when he failed to capitalise on some shaky goalkeeping from Paulo Gazzaniga. Action Images via Reuters Player Ratings: Arsenal vs Tottenham Carabao Cup quarter-final Alex Iwobi - 7 out of 10 Was Arsenal’s best player in the first half. Was surprisingly substituted early in the second period. Action Images via Reuters Player Ratings: Arsenal vs Tottenham Carabao Cup quarter-final Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - 5 out of 10 Aubameyang had a very quiet night and was hardly involved in any of Arsenal’s attacking play in the first half. Action Images via Reuters Player Ratings: Arsenal vs Tottenham Carabao Cup quarter-final Paulo Gazzaniga - 8 out of 10 Apart from a blocked clearance in the first half, Gazzaniga had a very good game and made some crucial saves in the first half. Action Images via Reuters Player Ratings: Arsenal vs Tottenham Carabao Cup quarter-final Kieran Trippier - 7 out of 10 Recovered from an early knock and was a threat with his crosses into the Arsenal box. Action Images via Reuters Player Ratings: Arsenal vs Tottenham Carabao Cup quarter-final Toby Alderweireld - 7 out of 10 Led the backline well. Arsenal struggled to break through Spurs’ defence all night. Getty Images Player Ratings: Arsenal vs Tottenham Carabao Cup quarter-final Ben Davies - 7 out of 10 A good performance in a different position. Getty Images Player Ratings: Arsenal vs Tottenham Carabao Cup quarter-final Danny Rose - 7 out of 10 Was good up against Maitland-Niles and Mkhitaryan in the first half. Action Images via Reuters Player Ratings: Arsenal vs Tottenham Carabao Cup quarter-final Moussa Sissoko - 6 out of 10 Missed a huge chance to double Spurs’ lead in the first half but had another decent game in midfield. Action Images via Reuters Player Ratings: Arsenal vs Tottenham Carabao Cup quarter-final Lucas Moura - 7 out of 10 Came off for Kane in the second half but troubled the Arsenal defenders when he was on the pitch. AP Player Ratings: Arsenal vs Tottenham Carabao Cup quarter-final Dele Alli - 9 out of 10 Man of the match. His pass for Son’s goal was sublime, his finish for the second goal was even better. Top class. AFP/Getty Images Player Ratings: Arsenal vs Tottenham Carabao Cup quarter-final Harry Winks - 7 out of 10 Calm and composed in the middle. Made things tick for Spurs. Getty Images Player Ratings: Arsenal vs Tottenham Carabao Cup quarter-final Christian Eriksen - 7 out of 10 Always a threat with his set-pieces. Didn’t quite manage a goal but a class act. Action Images via Reuters Player Ratings: Arsenal vs Tottenham Carabao Cup quarter-final Son Heung-min - 8 out of 10 Son’s finishing off either foot is always excellent. Brilliant goal and led the line very well. Action Images via Reuters

“My focus is analysing this match and Saturday,” Emery first said when asked whether Ozil cold be sold in January.

“It was a tactical decision because I thought the players today with us was for us the best for this match,” he also stated.

Emery said Ozil was in the stadium for the match but when asked how he responded to the decision, the manager said: “He is thinking in every player we have, 24, 25 players… it is for me the decision.”