Shkodran Mustafi heaps praise on Arsenal teammate Mesut Ozil

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The German international moved to the Emirates Stadium from Valencia during the summer transfer window.

Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi has told Goal that compatriot and Gunners teammate Mesut Ozil is capable of doing anything he wants with his left foot, whilst praising the German forward’s ability to demonstrate his boundless talents out on the pitch.

Former Real Madrid ace Ozil has been in sensational form for Arsene Wenger’s side this term, with the German magician, who has often been criticised for not scoring enough goals, netting seven times already to take Arsenal through to the last 16 of the Champions League and within two points of current Premier League leaders Liverpool.

Though Ozil is more renowned for his masterful playmaking abilities than his goalscoring prowess – he registered a staggering 19 league assists for Arsenal last season – the Schalke academy graduate is ice cool when presented with opportunities in front of goal and the Gunners are reaping the benefits of deploying a system that allows him to arrive in the opposition area with far greater regularity.

Club colleague and fellow German international Mustafi is not one bit surprised by Ozil’s blistering start to the 2016/17 campaign, and the former Valencia defender has heaped praise on his irrepressible Gunners’ teammate’s ability to showcase his undoubted quality when it matters most:

“He has the skills, vision, intelligence, quality”, the 24-year-old centre-half told Goal.

“Mesut’s left foot can play every pass he wants.

“He has so much quality but the most important thing is that he is willing to show it on the pitch.

“Sometimes you see players with so much quality but they can’t produce on the pitch.

“That’s what makes big players – putting their talent on the pitch.”

Arsenal fans breathed a huge sigh of relief earlier this week after Germany national boss Joachim Loew opted to hand Ozil a break for Die Mannschaft’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers with San Marino and Italy, allowing the 28-year-old time to relax and recuperate ahead of the Gunners’ next two monumental fixtures against Manchester United and Paris Saint Germain.