January is going to be an interesting month for Arsenal's Mesut Ozil.

Following Wednesday night's snub against Tottenham in the Carabao Cup, where the German failed to even make Unai Emery's match-day squad, his future is in doubt.

Ozil hasn't started a Premier League game for Arsenal since the 1-1 draw to Wolves in mid-November and it seems the problem is how he fits into Emery's system.

Various reports state Emery doesn't think Ozil is suited to his high-pressing style of play, which is why Alex Iwobi and Henrikh Mkhitaryan have been starting ahead of him recently.

Emery was asked about Ozil's absence from the Spurs game on Friday and insisted the decision was for tactic reasons. He also said there isn't a problem between them.

"Some matches we need different things, tactically or individually," said Emery of Ozil ahead of the Burnley game, per Goal. "It is not only for him.

"And the player's salary is not important for me. I do not know the players' salaries because for me they are the same.

"The most important thing is the commitment and they are there, every player, with the commitment. When I decide not to play them it is because of a tactical decision.

"It is the same with him or another. If you are asking about this difference because one has more salary and one has less salary, for me it is the same.

"Mesut is okay for [Saturday]. I trust in him, I trust in our team and our players. We are going to play and our game plan is tactically to get the best performance for each individual. That is my focus."

Arsenal fans suspect Ozil could leave in January, though it's also being reported that the 30-year-old's sky-high wage demands are an issue for potential suitors.

However, according to the Independent, the Gunners potentially have a plan.

Emery is said to be weighing up an audacious swap deal involving Ozil and Real Madrid's Isco, who is going through a troubled spell of his own in Spain.

Isco has barely featured under manager Santiago Solari this season, so Emery has reason to believe he might want Ozil in return.

It's a deal that would suit all parties seeing as Ozil was a popular figure at the Bernabeu during his time there. Both players would also be getting a fresh start.

One sticking point is that Real Madrid value Isco at £100m, so Arsenal would have to cough up some money as well as Ozil to lure the Spaniard to the Emirates Stadium.