Wenger: Ozil can be a legend
ARSENE WENGER has urged Mesut Ozil to sign a new contract and become an Arsenal legend like Dennis Bergkamp. Germany midfielder Ozil is in talks over a four-year deal worth around £200,000 a week, with Arsenal chiefs increasingly confident the 28-year-old will sign. He is in the form of his life and, after a slow start at the Emirates, is consistently producing the sort of performances that persuaded Arsenal to pay a club record £42million to sign him from Real Madrid in 2013. His Arsenal career has parallels with Bergkamp’s, who after a difficult start in North London went on to become one of the the Gunners’ greatest players in an 11-year stay. The comparison has been noted by Wenger, though he says Ozil can only go down in Arsenal folklore if he signs a contract extension. ‘There are similarities (in the careers of Bergkamp and Ozil),’ said Wenger. ‘Can Ozil become an Arsenal legend like Bergkamp? I think so, I think if he commits. Dennis Bergkamp committed for a long period, played until he was 38. I hope we have 10 more years of Ozil. To become a legend at the club you need to stay a long time. If you stay two years you would not be a legend.’ Wenger believes a settled personal life has sparked Ozil’s upturn in fortunes. The manager said: ‘It looks to me as though he is happier and I believe that comes out in his performances. He is committed now and he is at an age where he is more mature. ‘The difference today is he focuses more on efficiency. When he arrived here he was more focused on playing. Today efficiency is more in his mind. ‘I convinced him that he has it in his locker to score goals. He was more focused on giving and looking but today he understands that he can have those qualities, but be on the end of things as well. In training I noticed he is a very good finisher. ‘He now realises that. He is calm. You notice all the finishers are killers. That means they keep their nerve in front of goal and he has that.’