Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil said that "it won't be too much longer" before he returns from a knee injury in an interview published on the club website on Thursday.

The Germany international, 26, has not played since suffering a partial rupture of the outer band of the left knee joint during his side's 2-0 loss at Chelsea on October 5.

Ozil was pictured walking out for training at Arsenal's Hertfordshire training centre last week and he says that he is on schedule for a return in early 2015.

"I am working every day to get myself fit and I am on the right path now. It won't be much too much longer before I am back on the pitch," Ozil said.

"I hope to be back training with the whole team again as soon as possible."

Arsenal are currently in sixth place in the Premier League, two points below the Champions League places, and visit Liverpool on Sunday. They have been drawn to face Monaco in the Champions League last 16.