Arsenal's Ozil returns to training; available for selection vs. Stoke City

Arsenal's fortunes on the injury front are trending in the right direction with news of Mesut Ozil's return to training.

Manager Arsene Wenger confirmed the German midfielder's return Friday and says Ozil will be available for selection during the team's match against Stoke City on Sunday.

"He is an exceptional football player," Wenger told reporters, courtesy the team's website. "He always gives you continuity in your game. He’s a very creative player and ideally you want all your best players available."

Wenger went on to describe the positive side of being without so many players through injury during the first half of the Premier League season.

"The advantage of these players - for example (Olivier) Giroud, (Laurent) Koscielny, (Mathieu) Debuchy, Ozil - at the moment where most of the players in the league have played 26 or 27 games in their legs, they have four or five.

"If we can get them ready and fresh and competitive, it can give us a new (impetus)."

Ozil, who's been out of action since suffering a partially torn LCL in his left knee, was joined by midfielders Aaron Ramsey and Mathieu Flamini as participants to return from injury during the training session.