Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil has laid claim to the No.10 shirt vacated by Jack Wilshere at the club. Explaining his desire to ‘definitely’ have it, Ozil feels the opportunity is now his own to seize after he had earlier missed out on securing his favourite number.
However, after Lukas Podolski’ retirement from the national team, Ozil has been handed his favoured jersey number for the country and the German seems poised to take over the same number from Arsenal due to Jack Wilshere’s departure.
Jack Wilshere moved to Bournemouth on a season-long loan deal. He has thus vacated the No.10 jersey which is often used by footballers playing behind the striker or popularly by attacking midfielders. Ozil himself a star playmaker at Arsenal, believes he deserves to wear the number and claimed that it also motivates him.
He further mentioned some of the top players to have worn the jersey and feels emulating them would mean a lot to him. On international duty, Mesut Ozil revealed his intentions and added that he had apprised the management at Arsenal of his predilection for the number.
"It has become free and I will definitely have it," Ozil told German newspaper Express.
"I did a few years ago have this number [with Germany], but Lukas Podolski wanted it. He had more matches than I did. Now I have access. Of course, I've previously given those in charge [at Arsenal] a signal. The number is right for me and my position as the playmaker.
“For me, the number means a lot. It is my favourite number. Football legends such as Zinedine Zidane, Diego Maradona and Pele have had this number on their back."
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Manager Arsene Wenger counts on Ozil as one of the crucial players at the club and it appears he wouldn’t hesitate to oblige to the German’s fancy. Furthermore, the manager would also be hoping to get a contract extension deal signed from the player while he is happy.
In response to that speculation, Ozil admitted that negotiations are on and will arrive at a conclusion once he returns from international duty.
"I wanted to focus at this time only on the national team," Ozil said. "Now we look to continue the negotiations." The German playmaker has worn the No.11 since arriving from Real Madrid for a club-record fee in 2013 .
