Legendary former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has advised Mikel Arteta he must support Mesut Ozil to get the best out of him and insisted the midfielder is not hard to manage.
Attacking midfielder Ozil was left out of Arsenal's Premier League and Europa League squads for the first half of the campaign despite earning a whopping £350,000 a week.
Arsenal have been struggling in Ozil's absence sit 15th in the Premier League table ahead of Sunday's clash against Burnley.
Wenger, who spent five years working with Ozil at Arsenal after bringing him to the club, has told Arteta how he can get the German playmaker firing ahead of his possible re-inclusion to the squad in February.
Speaking to ESPN's Caught Offside podcast, the 71-year-old said: 'He was not difficult to manage. He was a guy who had a special quality as a creative player and needed to have fun.
'He is an artist and these guys are a bit more sensitive. They need support and an environment that pushes them to give their best.
'You have two ways to see a football team. You get everybody to do the same - the same intensity of work, the same defensive work - or you find a compromise.
'You have a more creative player in the team who can do less defensive work but you build a team around him who can compensate for these deficiencies. That is what you have to think about.'
Arsenal had appeared to be moving in the right direction under Arteta but a string of disappointing results has seen the slip close to the relegation zone than the top six.
Arsenal have noticeably struggled for creativity, scoring just 10 goals - only more than West Brom, Burnley and Sheffield United.
It has led to speculation that Arteta could recall Ozil when he has to re-submit his squad after the January transfer window.
Ozil, whose deal expires in the summer, is keen to stay and fight for his place in the team in the second half of the season but Arsenal may reportedly look to push him out the door, according to ESPN as per The Daily Express.
The 32-year-old has interest from Fenerbache, and DC United, La Galaxy and Inter Miami in the MLS.
Abdullahjalloh
536
Why tag his wage everytime,he is not responsible for the lack of game time.Thats like praising him and then criticizing him at the same time. Besides,it seems to me Arteta is a bit paranoid working with top superstars.
Bashkaz
134
Ozil doesn't need to prove himself. He is already a certified professional footballer with skills, creativity and productivity. Arsenal should have sense.
Gunners4ever❤
126
Let's bring Özil back to our squad in January if he decides to stay with us beyond next month. No matter how crap he's been for last two years he still deserves to get the oppurtunity to go out on a high. In his prime he was arguably the best attacking midfielder in the world and my 2nd favourite player after Messi. Me hating Özil nowadays is a completely different thing. I wish him the best of luck wherever he goes next. I hope he resurrects his career elsewhere after he leaves us because I still like him a bit for what he's done for us and his fans before
shakx3m
43
mzeereal
22
Ozil has no problem.. He will get his full wages with no stress. 😂
Homeboi21
21
Özil must be brought back into the squad aubameyang needs his spices to get back to form nobody assists better than Özil in the game it’s a known fact
pupaberu
18
bring ozil back.. arteta out