Gunner Ozil ready to fire
MESUT OZIL insists he is determined to get back to his best – and start helping Arsenal win trophies again.
Ozil, 30, has started pre-season with a new hunger to prove the doubters wrong after a disappointing campaign which left his future at Arsenal in serious doubt.
The World Cup winner said: “I am really happy. I am fit. We are working hard and as an Arsenal player and an Arsenal team we have always goals to win titles.
“Hopefully we can win titles this season. We train really hard to be fit for the season, we are doing our job very well.
“We are really happy to have been training in Los Angeles now and we have a little bit more time before the season starts.”
Ozil had his hardest season last year since moving to the Gunners in 2013, as boss Unai Emery dropped the £350,000-aweek midfielder.
But Ozil said: “I have a really good relationship with the coach, so we are speaking a lot and he wants to help me and I want to help the team.
“Of course he wants to help me. I know that because he has a lot of experience. We speak a lot and he wants to help me and I know what I can do on the pitch.
“I have had a lot of coaches in my career, so of course every coach is ■ from JOHN CROSS in Charlotte different and wants something different from you as a player.
“I had a few injuries before the season started last season and I had a tough time.
“But, especially the end of the season, I played a lot of games.
“I want to help the team and I think it will be going well this season, for me and the team.”
Emery says he has spoken with Ozil, adding: “We had big challenges (last season) collectively as a club and individually as a player.
‘‘I spoke with Mesut last week at the beginning of pre-season and wanted to get his best performance.
“The way to achieve that is with daily commitment. Really, he’s working very well and I’m very positive about his commitment.
“He’s one of the captains of the team, with Granit Xhaka and Nacho Monreal. I’m looking forward to seeing the best Mesut Ozil this season.”
Ozil looked sharp in Arsenal’s first game of their pre-season International Champions Cup tournament, a 2-1 win over Bayern Munich.
They face Fiorentina in Charlotte today before finishing against Real Madrid in Washington.