Per Mertesacker: Mesut Ozil can be Arsenal’s Zidane

Per Mertesacker, Mesut Ozil, Santi Cazorla

It’s no secret that the deadline day signing of Mesut Ozil caused the prevailing mood amongstArsenal fans to swing from the pessimistic to delirious. Judging by interviews in the Metro this morning, it seems that the German’s arrival has had a similar effect on his team-mates. Arsenal players Per Mertesacker and Santi Cazorla have both spoken of their excitement at the attacking potential given by the former Real Madrid man.

“Mesut is a player of a different kind. He is a joy to watch. Like Zidane or Ronaldinho, he can be one of those players who marks an era,” Mertesacker commented.

The German continued to talk about the side’s plethora of attacking talent as a whole: “We have players who can play so quickly together. Tomas Rosicky came in and fitted into everything as well as Mesut [Ozil] orJack [Wilshere]. When those three combined together, you could feel some magic in the air, a real chemistry.”

Santi Cazorla agreed about the improvement in attacking chemistry in the side since Ozil’s arrival: “We have got to know each other and I have to say that it is very easy to have a good understanding with a great player like him, since our playing philosophy is very similar. As the days go by we have a better association on the pitch.”

Mertesacker did add a note of caution though, stressing the need for the Gunners to back up their attacking talent with solid defensive displays.

“We know we are on a good run, but we know it needs more than just playing with full freedom and vision – we need to defend first and then we can switch the rest on. You have seen what can happen after that.”

Since his deadline day arrival, no player has created more chances than Ozil in the Premier League. The former Real Madrid man has created 17 since his switch.