Mesut Ozil Injury: Updates on Arsenal Star's Knee and Return

Arsenal's Mesut Ozil was forced to miss the team's clash with Newcastle United late in August because of a knee injury, but he was able to return to the starting lineup on Saturday against Stoke City.

Per BBC Sport on Aug. 29, Gunners manager Arsene Wenger was quick to confirm the knee injury was not a serious concern.

After missing a large portion of the 2014-15 campaign thanks to a ruptured ligament in his left knee, Ozil was hoping for smoother sailing this term, but his Emirates Stadium progress has been disrupted once again.

Speaking to German outlet SID after the Gunners' Emirates Cup win over Wolfsburg this summer (via ESPN FC's Stephan Uersfeld), Ozil insisted Arsenal are better than last season ahead of another title push:

"

I am super happy with the No. 10 position, and will also confirm that trust. The team spirit in our squad is right 100 percent. Our third place finish last season and the FA Cup victory were no coincidence. For my liking, we are better than last season. And I think that this year we trust ourselves to improve [the place in the standings] a bit this season.

"

The 26-year-old came back from injury in January to play a leading role for Arsenal as they tied up a second successive FA Cup triumph in May after hammering Aston Villa 4-0 at Wembley.

The Gunners are hoping to clinch the Premier League crown for the first time in 12 years, having lifted the title last in 2004 and finishing third or fourth in each of the subsequent 10 campaigns.