Ozil - We can get over 'bitter' losses

Mesut Ozil believes Saturday's match against Sunderland will give Arsenal a perfect opportunity to bounce back from their “bitter” losses to injury.

Arsene Wenger will be without Santi Cazorla and Alexis for Saturday’s game, after both players limped off in last week’s 1-1 draw at Carrow Road.

However, Aaron Ramsey and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain returned from a spell on the sidelines in that game, while Wenger also confirmed that Theo Walcott and Laurent Koscielny are back in contention, too.

“It’s very bitter for us to lose such important players like Alexis and Santi, but now we’ve got other players who can come in as we have a big squad,” Ozil said.

“They have the opportunity to play a role in the team, they have to give everything and this game is very, very important for us. We know what the situation is so we’ve got to go out and show our qualities so that we can win this game.

“The situation at the top of the table means there’s only two points between us and the top. I’m satisfied with that as a situation but we’ve really got to play with the quality that we’ve got in the team and do everything we can to get the points. It’s going to be an important game for us.”

Ozil has been in fine form this season, claiming 11 assists and two goals in 13 Premier League appearances and being voted Vitality Player of the Month twice in succession.

“It’s really good that it’s working well for me with the assists and goals, but I want to improve and become a better player all the time,” he said. “What is the most important thing, though, is actually the way the team performs as a whole and that we win games which can help us win the Premier League.

“That’s the most important factor for us now. It would be lovely to win PFA Player of the Year but in the foreseeable future we have the Premier League title and we have to win games so that we can go for it.”