How Mesut Ozil Can Impact for Arsenal and Arsene Wenger on Return from Injury

When Arsenal face Stoke City at the Emirates Stadium, Arsene Wenger will once again be able to call upon Mesut Ozil.

Ozil endured a bout of illness earlier this week, but his rehabilitation is effectively complete, and he is expected to be ready to face to Mark Hughes’ side.

The Gunners boss revealed to the club's official website: "He will have a training session on Friday with the squad. He will certainly be available for selection on Sunday. Will I start him or not? I haven’t decided yet."

There might be one or two Arsenal fans scratching their heads at the sight of the lank figure of the No. 11. Incredibly, the Gunners’ record signing has become something of a forgotten man during his quarter-year absence.

Ozil is not the sort to chase headlines away from the field. He’s gone about his recovery quietly and diligently. It’s been very much a case of "out of sight, out of mind."

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Even when Ozil was on the field this season, he failed to make much of an impression. Arsenal fans hoping for his performances to make a marked improvement in his second season with the club will have been disappointed with his underwhelming start to the campaign.

In fact, after the exertions of extended World Cup duty, Ozil’s displays actually suggested a regression from his 2013/14 form.

However, Wenger is in no doubt as to the quality he offers the side. Speaking again to the club's official website, he said: "He is an exceptional football player. He always gives you continuity in your game. He’s a very creative player and ideally you want all your best players available."

Availability is one thing, but you also want your best players in their best positions. Ozil’s displacement from the No. 10 role was doubtless a contributory factor to his poor early-season form.

According to WhoScored, Ozil has started eight games in the Premier League and Champions League this season. In half of those, he has played from the left-hand side of midfield. In another two, he’s played from the right.

Only twice has Ozil been granted his preferred central position.

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On both occasions, he’s looked far more comfortable. The first was against Aston Villa, when Ozil scored his only goal of the season and created another for Danny Welbeck. His other chance to play through the middle came at home to Galatasaray, when Arsenal produced one of their most fluid displays of the season.

Ozil even picked up another assist, this time playing in Alexis Sanchez to score.

Those are the only goals and assists of Ozil’s season thus far. That correlation is surely down to more than mere coincidence.

At present, the central attacking midfield role is occupied by Santi Cazorla. However, he has shown in the past that he can be effective in two other roles: either cutting in from the left or instigating moves from a deeper midfield position.

Ozil does not share that flexibility.

That’s not a problem, either. He’s a specialist, rather than a utility player.

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If Arsenal want to get the best out of the Germany international, they’ll need to accommodate him in his natural position. Should they do so, they ought to find they have a player who not only helps them control the game and dominate possession, but who is also capable of providing the crucial final pass.

Arsenal fans have waited a long time to see the real Mesut Ozil. 2015 could be the year when he finally makes his mark.

James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and is following the club from a London base throughout the 2014-15 season. Follow him on Twitter here.