Mesut Ozil could make his first appearance in more than three months when Arsenal host Stoke City in the Barclays Premier League on Sunday.
Germany international Ozil has endured a lengthy lay-off due to a torn ligament in his left knee, with his last outing coming in Arsenal’s 2-0 defeat at Chelsea on 5 October.
But the 26-year-old is set to be included in Arsene Wenger’s squad this weekend and could yet make the starting line-up.
“He will have a training session on Friday with the squad,” Wenger said. “He will certainly be available for selection on Sunday. Will I start him or not? I haven’t decided yet.”
Wenger was also able to offer positive updates on the fitness of Aaron Ramsey and Mathieu Flamini, who have been sidelined with respective hamstring and groin injuries, though Danny Welbeck (thigh) is still out.
“The team news is that Ramsey is back in training, Ozil is back in training and Flamini is back in training: we’ve got three players back,” he added. “Welbeck is still not available for Sunday because he is a bit short. Maybe next week he will be available.
“[Olivier] Giroud is back from suspension. So we have a bigger squad than last week.”
Wenger’s side suffered a 3-2 defeat at Stoke in December, having fallen three goals behind before half-time.
While Arsenal have often struggled at the Britannia Stadium, failing to win on their last five visits, their record in home Barclays Premier League matches against Stoke is faultless.
Ozil had a hand in all three goals as Arsenal won last season’s corresponding fixture 3-1 to make it six victories out of six against Stoke at Emirates Stadium since the latter were promoted in 2008.
But Mark Hughes’ side have recorded a number of notable wins on the road this season, triumphing at champions Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Everton.
“Our record there [at Arsenal] isn’t good, but this is an opportunity to put that right, I would suggest,” Hughes said. “Psychologically we hope that the recent result [against Arsenal] and the manner of the performance will stand us in good stead.”
Hughes could hand a debut to his new loan signing, German defender Philipp Wollscheid, while Victor Moses is in contention to return after seven weeks out with a thigh problem.
Bojan Krkic (hamstring) is rated doubtful and Mame Biram Diouf will definitely miss out due to his Africa Cup of Nations commitments with Senegal.
Arsenal (from): Martinez, Ospina, Szczesny, Chambers, Debuchy, Gibbs, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Monreal, Cazorla, Coquelin, Flamini, Gnabry, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ozil, Ramsey, Rosicky, Alexis, Campbell, Giroud, Sanogo, Walcott.
Stoke City (from): Begovic, Butland, Sorensen, Bardsley, Cameron, Huth, Muniesa, Pieters, Shawcross, Teixeira, Wilson, Wollscheid, Adam, Assaidi, Ireland, N’Zonzi, Palacios, Sidwell, Whelan, Arnautovic, Bojan, Crouch, Moses, Walters.
source: premierleague.com
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