LONDON- Arsenal hope the return of Welsh midfielder Aaron Ramsey will spark their faltering campaign as they prepare for Sunday's trip to Everton, a potentially vital clash in the battle for a top-four finish.
Ramsey was in sparkling form for the Gunners before suffering a thigh injury in December, having scored 13 goals in 27 appearances and spearheading his side's title challenge.
With hopes of a first Premier League crown since 2004 now a fading dream, Arsenal are in a fight to ensure a top-four finish and another appearance in the Champions League.
They are fourth with 64 points, four ahead of Everton but having played a game more, and have picked up only two points from their past three matches, a run that included an embarrassing 6-0 loss to Chelsea in manager Arsene Wenger's 1000th match in charge.
After more than three months on the sidelines Ramsey, 23, returns to the Arsenal squad at a vital time, a welcome boost for a midfield suffering through the absence of Jack Wilshere and record-signing Mesut Ozil, even if Wenger warned against expecting too much in his first match back.