The Premier League has always been filled with stars, but some shine brighter than others.
There are few players whose name evokes a squeal of joy from a club’s supporters quite like Arsenal fans’ reaction when the conversation turns towards Mesut Özil.
Since arriving in North London from Madrid in the summer of 2013 for a club record fee, the German international has shown time and time again why he is considered one of the most dangerous attacking players in world football.
We caught up with him with Indesit at the Arsenal training ground to talk about how he handles the pressure of expectation for both club and country.
Since arriving in England, Özil has more than justified the reported £42.5m outlay that Arsène Wenger famously splashed on him, making him not just the most expensive player in Arsenal history but in German history too.
But such pressure, he says, doesn’t phase him:
“I’ve always had pressure,” Özil, speaking at an event hosted by Indesit, the Official Home Appliance partner of Arsenal FC, says. “Especially at Madrid and in Germany with the national team, and now at Arsenal. I don’t really mind the pressure because I do what I do. I love football. I love it so I just enjoy it.
“Of course, sometimes it doesn’t go well and sometimes it goes very well. I think everyone knows that on the pitch, I always give 100%. That’s the most important thing.”
While most of us might crumble under such pressure, Özil knows that he has the backing of his manager throughout, citing Wenger’s involvement in the deal to bring him to Arsenal as the main motivator for his signing.
“He was of course the big influence,” Özil explains. “He was the guy to explain to me what he wanted me to do, what he wanted to do with the club and me. So in the end I decided to go to Arsenal for him because I am so thankful have such a big coach. We will always support him.”
But it’s not just his manager’s influence which has made him feel welcome in North London. While his English is improving every day, the third generation Turk has found familiar home comforts in his new city, including the familiar sound of Turkish being spoken on the streets.
“If I want to buy some stuff for my house like meat or something like that, I know in North London that there are big streets where there are just Turkish people and Turkish markets, so that has always helped me of course.”
“Before, I tried to practice [English] with a teacher but I said ‘Okay, you learn it but if you don’t speak the language then you forget a lot of stuff’. So what I do now is go out on the street and speak with the people and so I learn more.
“I’m always really appreciative because if I am walking outside with my family, the fans come up and they are very kind. So I am very thankful and I really enjoy playing for such a big club.”
Özil is obviously adored by Arsenal fans and there are fan accounts across social media which delight with every assist the German makes.
Playing in arguably the best German national team in history, or at the very least since reunification in 1990, the Arsenal playmaker has been named German Player of the Year in four of the past five years, with 2014 the only time he missed out on the award.
“You see in the team that we have really, really good players so I’m really thankful that I have won this award four times,” he says. “My aim on the pitch is to always help my team.”
Coming into Euro 2016, Germany are among the favourites, and Özil is refreshingly bullish when asked if he is looking forward to facing any of his club teammates in France this summer. Once again, the World Cup winner shows the mentality that has made him a winner, asking for the ultimate challenge this summer.
When asked about his dream finish, he says he hopes to face club mates Laurent Koscielny and Olivier Giroud in the final this July.
“I would say the final against France, because they have such a great team with the fans behind them. I think it would be an interesting game.”
Few would look forward to the hostility of a packed Stade de France in a home European final, but if there’s one thing we’ve learned from his three years at Arsenal, it’s that no one can see things quite the way Özil does.
At this stage, we know better than to question him.
Mesut Ozil starred alongside Aaron Ramsey, Calum Chambers, Per Mertesacker and Serge Gnabry in the Indesit ‘Home Appliance Not Rocket Science’ quiz. Follow Indesit, the Official Home Appliance Partner of Arsenal FC, at facebook.com/IndesitFC and on Twitter and Instagram via @IndesitFC.
