Midfielders Mesut Ozil, out since early October with a knee ligament injury, and Aaron Ramsey, out with hamstring problems since December, returned to Arsenalpractices and are could play in Sunday’s game against Stoke City.
“Aaron Ramsey, Ozil and Mathieu Flamini are back in training. (Danny)Welbeck is not available, (Olivier) Giroud is back from suspension,” said Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger, whose team sits in sixth place.
GoalkeeperWojciech Szczesny starting role is in jeopardy after being fined by the club after being caught smoking in the locker room after Arsenal’s loss to Southampton on Jan. 1.
“I’ve not selected the first 11 yet. I don’t want to talk about what happens in our dressing room because what happens stays in the dressing room. Apart from the fact it doesn’t stay in thedressing room,” Wenger joked. “He’s a serious boy who works very hard. He’s not the first to make a mistake and not the last.”