Wenger backs Ozil to make impact
Arsene Wenger believes Mesut Ozil is hungry to make an impact at Arsenal this season - but faces a fight to get back into his side.
The German World Cup winner has flattered to deceive for much of his time at the Emirates following his club-record move from Real Madrid in the summer of 2013.
Ozil has played just nine times for the Gunners this campaign and even on those appearances he was often outshone by the likes of Alexis Sanchez.
The 26-year-old has been missing with a knee injury and has not featured since the 2-0 defeat to Chelsea at the beginning of October.
But Wenger insists the former Werder Bremen star is ready to show the Arsenal supporters what they have been missing and is in contention to play some part in Sunday's Premier League clash with Stoke.
"I think it has been a frustrating start (to the season) for him because he hasn't contributed yet," Wenger said of his B#42million man.
"He had not a convincing start obviously, he only played six games and scored one goal against Aston Villa.
"Mesut has the opportunity to come back and to contribute to the team, when you're a football player you want to play games.
"Today he looks hungry and is working extremely hard, pushing himself to the limit of what you can absorb physically to come back. It is not easy for him. Santi (Cazorla) is playing very well. It is a fight to get back to his best level."
Ozil's return to the first-team fold coincides with Aaron Ramsey's return to fitness as Wenger looks to seal a victory over Stoke that could see them close in on the top four.
Olivier Giroud will also be available following his suspension but Danny Welbeck will still be missing, with Wenger hoping to have the England forward back next week.
Meanwhile, Stoke boss Mark Hughes has accused people of being "lazy" for labelling his side as bullies every time they claim a stunning result.
It was the case almost five weeks ago when Stoke conjured a superb 3-2 Barclays Premier League win over Arsenal, leading 3-0 at the break before the Gunners finally fought back late in the second period.
That result and performance has fired up Stoke as they have lost just one of their last seven matches from early December going into the return league clash on Sunday.
"The last time we played them we played exceptionally well," said Hughes.
"After the game some people used certain terms to explain why we beat Arsenal, such as intimidation and we bullied them out of the result, which wasn't the case at all.
"I would argue for the first 60 to 70 minutes of the game we were by far the best team on the pitch. We played them off the park.
"We were the team that played the best football by getting the ball down, passing and moving and creating chances.
"To describe us as bullies was the wrong word, a lazy term and an easy one to label us with.
"It's a term that goes back to bygone days when people had a different impression of us.
"There are other terms that could have illustrated how well we played on the day, such as competitive, and there is a difference.
"We are competitive as we look to get the ball down and play, and we have a plan A and plan B depending on the circumstances of the game.
"We can go more direct if we feel it's the right thing to do, but if we see weaknesses in teams then we will try and exploit them.
"We are a different side now with different qualities, and weapons I would suggest, and we can use them to good effect.
"If we get it right then on our day we are difficult to play against, which we have proven this year home and away."
Germany defender Philipp Wollscheid, signed on loan for the rest of the season from Bayer Leverkusen earlier this week, goes straight into the squad.
Hughes has four players - defenders Marc Muniesa and Marc Wilson, midfielder Victor Moses and striker Bojan Krkic - who are also in the frame, although may not figure as they are returning from injury.
Source: PA
