Arsenal’s star winger Bukayo Saka has paid a surprisingly glowing tribute to his former teammate Mesut Ozil, naming the German playmaker the perfect participant he has ever performed with.
The help from the 24-year-old, who shared the pitch with the likes of England gamers Harry Kane, Declan Rice and Phil Foden, underlines the retired midfielder’s distinctive and simple genius.
In an interview with BBC Radio 5, Saka was requested who was the perfect participant he had ever performed with.
The Arsenal winger replied: “In all probability Mesut Ozil. He is a top quality participant, I actually loved it. It is laborious to explain in phrases. It is enjoyable to play with him, it is enjoyable to look at him.”
That sentiment completely captures the admiration many younger Gunners have for a midfielder with uncommon imaginative and prescient and creativity not often seen on the Premier League stage.
Saka performed 17 video games alongside Mesut Ozil within the early phases of his senior profession, clearly leaving an impression of pure, easy high quality.
Mesut Ozil’s time at Arsenal
Ozil joined Arsenal from Actual Madrid in 2013 and has turn out to be synonymous with elite-level playmaking.
Regardless of his time in North London coming to an eventful finish, his prime years offered Arsenal followers with unforgettable moments of footballing artistry.
Throughout his tenure, Ozil performed 254 video games for the membership, scoring 44 targets and offering 77 assists.
| participant | Look | the aim | help | competitors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| mesut ozil | 254 | 44 | 77 | all competitions |
The spotlight of his excellent efficiency got here within the 2015/16 Premier League season, when he offered an astonishing 19 assists, second within the league behind Thierry Henry, and established himself as the most effective inventive forces in Europe on the time.
He additionally helped the membership win 4 FA Cup titles, breaking their notorious nine-year trophy drought.
Ozil’s political beliefs and the top of his Arsenal profession
Whereas Mesut Ozil’s high quality on the pitch was by no means in query, his profession at Arsenal was in the end affected by controversy off the sector.
The German midfielder publicly criticized China’s human rights insurance policies in 2018.
The scenario additional escalated in December 2019 when he posted a controversial assertion on social media opposing the alleged persecution of Uyghur Muslims in China.
Arsenal rapidly distanced themselves from the feedback, saying they had been “Ozil’s private opinions” and that the membership “at all times upholds the precept of not getting concerned in politics.”
Given the Premier League and the membership’s important business pursuits in China, the remark sparked a direct and intense backlash, together with the cancellation of the membership’s matches on Chinese language state tv.
The high-earning star’s subsequent exclusion from each the Premier League and Europa League squads culminated in his departure to Fenerbahce in January 2021.
What’s Mesut Ozil doing now?
Since retiring from skilled soccer in March 2023 after his ultimate spell with Istanbul Basaksehir, Mesut Ozil has moved on to a brand new chapter, primarily targeted on Turkish politics and a number of other enterprise ventures.
Ozil, who’s of Turkish descent, will formally enter Turkish politics and be part of the central council of the ruling Justice and Improvement Social gathering (AKP) in 2025.
The transfer follows a long-established shut relationship with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Past politics, the previous Germany worldwide pursues quite a few enterprise pursuits.
He stays concerned with the esports staff he based in 2018. Ozil additionally acquired a stake in Mexican soccer membership Membership Necaxa.
Even after his retirement, Ozil has continued to work on his physique, spending time within the fitness center to construct a extra muscular physique, a marked distinction from his taking part in days.
