Mesut Ozil: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger reveals the 'refreshed' £42.5m playmaker is back in the squad and ready to face Stoke in the Premier League this weekend

German international returns to the side for Saturday's match

Mesut Ozil is back in the Arsenal squad to face Stoke (GETTY IMAGES)

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed that Mesut Ozil, who missed the Gunners' 4-1 victory over Sunderland last weekend, is back in the squad for the trip to Stoke City on Saturday.

The official reason given for German playmaker's absence against Sunderland was a dead leg, although the club's record signing has struggled in England over the last few weeks, and his last appearance was a below-par effort against Bayern Munich, in which his tame penalty was saved by international team-mate Manuel Neuer in the 2-0 Champions League last-16 first-leg defeat at the Emirates Stadium.

"Ozil had a difficult game [against Bayern Munich]," Wenger said. "It's good to refresh when you are under pressure."