Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Arsenal injuries pave way for Ozil start
ARSENE WENGER looks set to hand Mesut Ozil his first start for Arsenal when they travel to Sunderland on Saturday.
Arsenal's midfield ranks have been hit by fitness fears ahead of their trip to the Stadium of Light, forcing Wenger to throw Ozil into Premier League action immediately.
Tomas Rosicky sustained a thigh injured playing for the Czech Republic against Italy on Tuesday, with £42.5million Ozil set to replace him.
Theo Walcott hobbled out of England's goalless draw in Kiev after being the subject of a few crunching tackles by Ukraine, while Roy Hodgson admitted Jack Wilshere's poor performance was the result of his lack of match fitness.
The in-form Aaron Ramsey went down playing for Wales after a nasty-looking collision with a billboard, while Mikel Arteta is still on the treatment table.
With Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Lukas Podolski also long-term injury absentees, Wenger will need Germany star Ozil's creativity against Sunderland.
Arsenal's French internationals Bacary Sagna, Per Mertesacker and Olivier Giroud will be available, despite striker Yaya Sanogo picking up a back complaint with the Under-21s.