Arsene Wenger Gives Mikel Arteta Solution To Mesut Ozil Problem

Mesut Ozil is yet to feature this season for Arsenal despite a brief renaissance last campaign before the coronavirus-enforced lockdown.

And the 31-year-old was handed a fresh blow as he was left out of Mikel Arteta's squad for the Europa League earlier this week.

But former Gunners boss Arsene Wenger – who paid £42.5million to sign Ozil from Real Madrid in 2013 – believes there is a way back to the first team for the Arsenal outcast.

“He wasn't exactly the one with the greatest discipline on the pitch,” Wenger told German outlet Der Speigel. “And playing the game without the ball wasn’t exactly his forte.

“But you can deal with that if you put some more defensively minded players by his side.

”The main thing is to get the balance between attack and defence right.”

But the legendary Frenchman admits the modern game's focus on strength and pace may not suit his former player.

Wenger added: “Players have lost their technical quality over the past 10 years. Athleticism has become more important than technique and decision making.

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“It's more about physical characteristics and intensity, about explosiveness. And it's also about being a showman.”

This article was most recently revised and updated 4 years ago