Preview: Arsenal vs. Stoke City

Arsenal duo Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey have been declared fit for the Premier League fixture with Stoke City.

Ozil has been missing since October 5 while Ramsey hasn't played since scoring against Galatasaray in December, but both midfielders are in contention to start against the Potters.

Mathieu Flamini is also included in the squad, as is Olivier Giroud who has served a three-match ban, but Danny Welbeck misses out through injury.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger must also choose between Wojciech Szczesny, who has been fined after a smoking incident, and second-choice goalkeeper David Ospina.

Arsenal's recent defeat to Southampton has seen them fall down to sixth position in the league table but three points at the Emirates Stadium could see Wenger's men overtake rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

Stoke will be without Mame Biram Diouf after the forward departed for the Africa Cup of Nations, but Bojan Krkic is available to take his place in the starting lineup.

New signing Philipp Wollscheid, who has moved to the Britannia Stadium on loan from Bayer Leverkusen, should feature on the substitutes' bench.

Mark Hughes will have been impressed with his team in recent weeks, with their only defeats in eight games coming against Manchester United and Chelsea.

Arsenal:

Form in Premier League: LWDWWL Form in all competitions: WDWWLW

Possible starting lineup: Szczesny; Debuchy, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs; Flamini, Ramsey; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Cazorla, Sanchez; Giroud

Stoke City:

Form in Premier League: WDLWWD Form in all competitions: DLWWDW

Possible starting lineup: Begovic; Cameron, Shawcross, Muniesa, Pieters; N'Zonzi, Whelan; Arnautovic, Walters, Krkic; Crouch

Sports Mole says: 3-1