Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will consider resting Mesut Ozil for Saturday’s clash against Norwich.
The Germany international has been passed fit despite sustaining a minor knee injury against Sweden on Tuesday night.
But with the Champions League clash against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday, Wenger is contemplating giving the £42million signing a break.
High-flyer: Mesut Ozil suffered a knock playing for Germany in their 5-3 victory over Sweden
He'll be right: Ozil was substituted late in the match but Arsene Wenger says he will play Norwich on Saturday
Bacary Sagna and Santi Cazorla could both feature against Norwich after recovering from injury.
Defender Sagna missed the 1-1 draw against West Bromwich Albion on October 6 with a hamstring injury, while Cazorla has been unavailable for six weeks due to an ankle problem.
Theo Walcott, however, is still two weeks away from fitness as he recovers from an abdominal problem.
Big return: Santi Cazorla could return for the first time since Arsenal's defeat of Tottenham in September
Contender: Defender Bacary Sagna has also recovered from a hamstring injury and could be back for Arsenal
Meanwhile, Wenger on Thursday insisted Arsenal would not be ditching
their philosophy of nurturing young talent despite the club-record
signing of Ozil.
Wenger said: ‘I believe that we still have to convince ourselves the future of this club will rely on the quality of the work we do inside — developing our players, scouting with quality and of course, when it is needed, then to put big numbers out and buy the player.’
Forwards Yaya Sanogo (back) and Lukas Podolski (hamstring) also continue their rehabilitation, along with midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Abou Diaby (both knee).
Gunned down: Arsenal's casualty ward includes (clockwise from top left) Theo Walcott (abdomen), Lukas Podolski (hamstring), Abou Diaby (knee) and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (knee)
The Germany international has been passed fit despite sustaining a minor knee injury against Sweden on Tuesday night.
But with the Champions League clash against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday, Wenger is contemplating giving the £42million signing a break.
High-flyer: Mesut Ozil suffered a knock playing for Germany in their 5-3 victory over Sweden
He'll be right: Ozil was substituted late in the match but Arsene Wenger says he will play Norwich on Saturday
Defender Sagna missed the 1-1 draw against West Bromwich Albion on October 6 with a hamstring injury, while Cazorla has been unavailable for six weeks due to an ankle problem.
Theo Walcott, however, is still two weeks away from fitness as he recovers from an abdominal problem.
Big return: Santi Cazorla could return for the first time since Arsenal's defeat of Tottenham in September
Contender: Defender Bacary Sagna has also recovered from a hamstring injury and could be back for Arsenal
Wenger said: ‘I believe that we still have to convince ourselves the future of this club will rely on the quality of the work we do inside — developing our players, scouting with quality and of course, when it is needed, then to put big numbers out and buy the player.’
Forwards Yaya Sanogo (back) and Lukas Podolski (hamstring) also continue their rehabilitation, along with midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Abou Diaby (both knee).
Gunned down: Arsenal's casualty ward includes (clockwise from top left) Theo Walcott (abdomen), Lukas Podolski (hamstring), Abou Diaby (knee) and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (knee)
