Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker has said that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain can make a huge impact for the club.

The 20-year-old has been injured for the past five months, but played 45 minutes for the Arsenal Under-21s in midweek, and Mertesacker is pleased to see him back on the pitch again.

"We need every single player and in particular Alex," he told Arsenal's official website. "It was a real shock when he was out after Aston Villa.

"Following that game we did really well as a team but we need him because he can always make the difference with his speed, with his passing and obviously with his finishing. He can [make] absolutely a great impact for any team in the world so we are really pleased that he's back.

"But I think he needs some time to get through training and to have some good games, but I'm really pleased for him that he got 45 minutes against Fulham. That is a step back to absolutely full fitness."

Arsenal visit Aston Villa in the Premier League on Monday.