Ozil on the bench vs. Bayern as Sanchez starts

Mesut Ozil has again been ruled out of Arsenal's starting lineup, with the German World Cup winner on the bench for Tuesday's Champions League visit from Bayern Munich.

It's the second match on the bounce that Ozil isn't in the starting XI after the crafty playmaker missed Sunday's 3-1 defeat at Liverpool, marking the second time he's missed a stretch with illness in the calendar year.

In terms of good news, Alexis Sanchez is in the starting XI after being named to the bench for the defeat at Anfield amid reports of a training ground bust-up with teammates.

After a two-week club-imposed hiatus, Ozil's latest spell with illness is likely to enrage Gunners supporters, especially when the 28-year-old Schalke product missed January tilts with Crystal Palace and Bournemouth with the flu.

Ozil's last run-out for Arsenal was against the Bavarian behemoth in a 5-1 first leg drubbing, and, needless to say, his display was not the most inspiring effort the Gelsenkirchen-born star has put forth since making the north London switch from Real Madrid in 2013.

On the heels of a volcanic-hot start to the season, Ozil has not scored since a Dec. 10 victory over Stoke City, and has just two helpers in nine matches after leading the league with 18 assists last season.