Per Mertesacker: I told Wenger to sign Mesut Ozil for Arsenal

Per Mertesacker gives Wenger glowing review of Mesut Ozil…


Arsenal’s centre-half Per Mertesacker claims he advised his Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger to sign German compatriot Meust Ozil from Real Madrid, he told Sport1.

The Gunners smashed their transfer record to sign the 24-year-old playmaker on the final day of the transfer window for £42m, making Ozil the most expensive ever import into the Premier League.

Mertesacker claims though that he always knew Wenger had money to spend, and that he told his French boss to sign Ozil.

Mertesacker played with the attacker during a stint at Werder Bremen before both left the Bundesliga side, but they will now reunite at the Emirates.

“Arsene Wenger has asked me what I thought of Ozil, and the answer was obvious,” claimed the giant centre-half.

“I knew that he had been watching him for a long time, and he wanted to sign him even when he was at Werder Bremen.”

Arsenal haven’t won a trophy in eight years, but Mertesacker reckons the Ozil signing will make the Gunners a real threat in major competitions this term.

“I am glad that we have still managed a relatively big deal before the deadline, which will certainly bring us forward in the Premier League and in the Champions League.
“I know him from Bremen, so I know he will improve us.”

Ozil is expected to make his Gunners debut on September 14 away to Sunderland, on the back of consecutive victories for the side.