Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: 'Stoke City defeat is added incentive'

Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has admitted that last month's defeat at Stoke City has given the team added incentive ahead of their meeting at the Emirates Stadium this afternoon.

The Gunners slipped to a 3-2 reverse at the Britannia Stadium last month, having found themselves three goals down before mustering an unsuccessful comeback.

"I'd be lying if I said we hadn't thought about it, but we can't dwell on it," Oxlade-Chamberlain told Sky Sports News. "It's a new game and another chance for us to get three points.

"But what happened at Stoke does give us an added incentive to respond to that negative result and bounce back."

The England international also revealed his delight at having Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey back in the 18-man squad for the visit of the Potters.

He added: "Obviously it's a massive lift to have some of those players back so they really do help. Their quality speaks for itself.

"It's a long season and we've just come off the back of a busy Christmas schedule so to get fresh legs back and new boys is always good."

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