Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger cannot understand why his German midfielder Mesut Ozil gets so much negative publicity and believes the £42.4m player is massively underrated.
The Arsenal manager has stepped up in defence of Ozil and said he does not get the credit he deserves for his sharp anticipation and awareness of the game. He described the Germany international as a ‘perfect player’ and is of the view that people who think anything less are judging him through clouded spectacles.
The Frenchman told ESPN: “People are very harsh on Ozil because he’s a player who is easy with his play.
“When you watch his game back the next day you think ‘what a player’. Everything he does is intelligent and the timing of absolutely everything he does is absolutely perfect.
“You never catch him giving the ball too late. The number of players you catch giving the ball too late is unbelievable. You never get that with Ozil.”
The 25-year-old moved to Arsenal from Real Madrid last summer for an eye-popping £42.4m – a record transfer payout for the Gunners.
Critics have shunned Ozil for delivering very poor value for money to his club and not making much of an impact during his first season in north London.
Despite this, Ozil’s boss can see something in the player that he believes his sceptics have failed to identify.
“He’s like a guy who plays music with perfect timing. There aren’t many players like that.
“There’s been the same debate about him in Germany,” Wenger added, “but he was always in the team in the World Cup.”