Mesut Ozil aims to end Arsenal's trophy drought - and thinks his style will fit them like a glove
Mesut Ozil aims to end Arsenal's trophy drought - and thinks his style will fit them like a glove
Speaking for the first time since £42m move, the German said he was looking forward to helping Arsene Wenger's side
New boy: Ozil hopes to guide Arsenal to glory
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Mesut Ozil has promised to bring back the glory years to Arsenal.
Germany
midfielder Ozil, 24, revealed it is an “honour” to join the Gunners after making a £42m switch which has stunned football.
In
his
first big interview as an Arsenal player, Ozil named Arsene Wenger and
Zinedine Zidane as inspirational figures in his career and also told the
Londoners' fans what they wanted to hear.
Ozil, who joined from
Real Madrid on deadline day, made it clear that he has moved to the
Emirates to win silverware and end Arsenal’s barren run of eight years
without a trophy.
“In
the last few years, Arsenal haven’t been so successful but we want to
become more successful,” said Ozil. “We want to win trophies. I think
the fans are looking forward to that too.
“We
have a very strong and a very young team that can improve a lot under
the manager. I think we will win trophies because we have the potential
[to do so].
“I’m so happy to be playing at Arsenal. I’m honoured by it. I hope we can have a successful season. It feels really good.
“I’m
really
looking forward to the challenge, life there [in London] and [meeting]
my team-mates, the manager and the fans, as well as the Premier League.
I’m really excited. It’s a perfect decision for me and and I’m looking
forward to it all.
“I’m
happy to be playing in the Premier League because everyone knows it’s
the strongest league in the world. There are simply a lot of top teams. I
want to prove myself there. It’s a new challenge for me, a new task. I
want to improve further under the boss and in the team. I’m really
excited about it.”
The departure of the German international was greeted with shock by some of his former team-mates, so highly is the player rated among his peers.
Ozil also made it clear that he chose Arsenal because of Wenger, the style of play
and he also believes that he can develop as a player at the Emirates. Ozil can't wait to get started
Alexander Hassenstein
It
was Wenger who rang Ozil last Saturday and outlined his plans for the
club, the club’s ambition and the fact that he spoke in German and that
international team mates Lukas Podolski and Per Mertesacker are already
there was influential.
“I chose Arsenal because they are one of
the top clubs in England,” said Ozil. “The coach is a world-class
manager - he’s demonstrated that for years.
“A lot of players
have developed under his guidance in the past and that’s why I decided
to join Arsenal. I want to improve myself further and I’m looking
forward to the style of play.
“Arsenal
are well known for the strength of their technical game and their desire
to play attacking football. I think I will fit perfectly into that.
That’s why I chose to sign for the Club.
“The
most important thing is that the manager has given me his trust. I want
to show my potential and have fun on the pitch. I think that I can help
the team through my performances.
“I
spoke to the manager a lot on the phone and he presented his vision and
what he thinks about me. That convinced me and that’s why I am now at Arsenal.
“The manager always wants to play attractive and attacking football. I think I fit into that
because I enjoy playing quickly - that ‘one-touch football.’ I’m happy to be part of the Club and I hope I can help the team.”
Ozil
has
provided 94 assists for Real Madrid and Germany in the past four years -
the highest in Europe - and he says they should be considered as
important as goals.
“Yes, of
course. It leads to success and I’m the sort of player that likes to
create goals,” he said. “I think a lot of my team-mates know me as a
player who is not selfish.
“It
makes me very happy when I create goals or score goals myself. But the
most important thing is that the team reaches its goal and plays
positive football.”
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Mesut Ozil
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Ozil says
his idol is France World Cup winner Zinedine Zidane and would love to
emulate him while also insisting that living in London was another good
reason to move to Arsenal.
He
added: “I’ve said recently that my idol was Zinedine Zidane because for
me, he was the perfect player. He was good in the air. He was strong defensively and offensively. He was my idol.
“He
had hardly any negative headlines including in his private life. He was
a role model for me. Therefore, it was Zinedine Zidane.
“I
have heard a lot of positive things about London. It’s a ‘world city’
where there is lots going on. You can do lots of things, also privately.
I’m looking forward to the city. But I will be working there and that is
what is important.”
Forward Lukas Podolski will have to wait a
while before he can link-up with international team-mate Ozil back at
Arsenal, as he recovers from a hamstring tear.
However, Podolski
is in no doubt of the impact Ozil can have. Speaking to the Bild
newspaper, he said: 'Mesut will help us in any situation. Our system and
game at Arsenal will fit very well to him.
"Definitely Mesut and I will rock Arsenal.
"It
is our great goal to have success in London. We already play awesome
football. The only think that has been missing was the last punch, that
surprise moment. That's exactly what Mesut can give us, with a super
pass or a solo move."
After moving to strengthen his squad with
new arrivals, Wenger is now likely to look to tie up the future of
Bacary Sagna, with the France international in talks to extend his
contract which expires at the end of the season.
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