Hector Bellerin: What Arsenal’s players really think about Mesut Ozil
The Arsenal defender reveals the Gunners squad's appreciation for World Cup winner Mesut Ozil
Hector Bellerin has spoken of his respect for Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil after the German’s mesmerising north London derby performance.
The World Cup winner’s future at the Emirates Stadium has been called into question this season after the attacking midfielder entered the final 12 months of his current Gunners deal.
Ozil’s performances have been criticised this season to raise doubts about his commitment to the Arsenal cause amid talk of Manchester United signing the Germany international.
The 29-year-old’s poor performances in heavy losses at Liverpool and Manchester City attracted a lot of criticism.
However, Ozil produced a brilliant free-kick to tee up Shkodran Mustafi for Arsenal’s opening goal in a 2-0 win against Tottenham Hotspur in last weekend’s north London derby.
And Spanish defender Bellerin underlined Arsenal’s appreciation for the German midfielder despite frequent criticism of the ex-Real Madrid star.
“Mesut is someone who gets a lot of criticism, but the players who are around him are very happy to have him and play with him,” Ozil told Arsenal’s website. “He makes things easy for you.
“People sometimes talk about his body language, but he gives everything for this shirt. The players who play around him know that he makes everything so much easier.”
Ozil moved to Arsenal from Real Madrid in a £42.5m deal in the 2013 summer transfer window.
The Gunners midfielder has won three FA Cups in the past four seasons since his big-money move to Arsenal.
Arsene Wenger’s side are in sixth place in the Premier League table and four points behind second-placed Manchester United.
