Arsene Wenger has revealed that the star duo of Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez will return from injury when the Gunners face cross town rivals Chelsea in the league tie next weekend.
The German international missed the north London club’s 0-0 draw to Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium on Sunday due to a foot injury while Sanchez last featured for the Emirates club in November and since then has been on the sidelines.
The two star players have been vital for Arsenal’s title challenge this season and will return for the clash against the Premier League champions. Jack Wilshere and Danny Welbeck have also been in the club’s treatment room all season and the manager suggested they are closing in on returning to the training ground as well.
“I hope Ozil and Sanchez [will be back for Chelsea]. I believe that next week we will have some players back and slowly some other players are one or two weeks away so in a few months we should have a big part of our injured players back,” Wenger told Sky Sports.
“There is no team in the world that does not miss Mesut Ozil and that is of course used to having him there and giving the final ball but I must say give without Mesut it wouldn’t have been a very different game.”
With Ozil and Sanchez back in contention for the Chelsea clash, the availability of the two former La Liga stars will give the Gunners manager more options while selecting his starting XI. The ex-Real Madrid midfielder already has 16 assists to his name in the league and his return will be a timely boost for Arsenal.
Sanchez’s return could likely force Joel Campbell to settle for a role on the bench. Against Chelsea, Wenger could start Olivier Giroud with Sanchez, Ozil and Theo Walcott playing behind the striker.
Chelsea settled for a 3-3 draw after John Terry’s late offside flick helped Guus Hiddink’s side avoid a defeat against Everton. Arsenal were only able to manage a draw in their last league game against Stoke, and as such both both clubs will be looking to bounce back with a win when they face each other on 24 January.
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