Arsenal vs Chelsea: Mesut Ozil 'hopeful' of returning to face Premier League champions

Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil is expecting to return from a foot injury in time for the Premier League visit of champions Chelsea. The Germany international missed the draw with Stoke City but Arsene Wenger is hopeful of being able to call on his services at The Emirates Stadium.

Ozil eased any fears he may be set for an extended spell on the sidelines by writing on Twitter: "Hopefully I'll be back well for the next match," alongside a photo of him watching the game against Stoke at home. The 27-year-old has 16 assists in the top flight this season and is closing in on Thierry Henry's record of 20 in a single season.

The former Real Madrid man has been key to Arsenal's surge to the top of the table but his return is key ahead of the visit of Chelsea, who are unbeaten since the return of Guus Hiddink. Wenger is hopeful that Ozil and Alexis Sanchez will be available for Arsenal in another test of their title credentials.

"He had an inflammation on his foot and yesterday morning we looked and he was not very well," Wenger explained, as quoted by Arsenal's official website. "He was not 100% at Liverpool so I decided to leave him out. I think he should be back for next Sunday."

Speaking to Sky Sports, the Arsenal boss added: "I hope Ozil and Sanchez [will be back for Chelsea]," the Arsenal boss added. "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.

"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."