Mesut Ozil has been speaking to the press in Germany while on international duty.

The Arsenal man has been talking about how he started in football and the effects both his German and Turkish heritage have had on his game.

Ozil told Bild

“I have, on the one hand, the German discipline and tactics, which is coached at the youth academies in Germany.

“On the other hand, I watched the Turkish league growing up with my family and as a child I tried to reproduce the tricks of the professionals.

“We grew up playing in a confined space on an old football ground – that is how it all started.

“That is why I am proud that I was able to take something from both cultures.

“Also, I feel just as comfortable in Germany as in Turkey and I’m always happy to be with the national team.”

mesut ozil as child
Mesut Ozil as child [source tumblr.com]
Ozil was handed the captains armband on Wednesday night in the second half as Germany drew 2-2 with Australia.

The midfielder has also spoke recently about how he feels his ethnicity colours how people talk about him and plays a bigger role in his footballing life than it does in that of others who are from a mixed background.

Substitute Lukas Podolski scored not long after being introduced to level the tie with his first goal for club or country in since he found the net for Arsenal against Galatsaray in 2014.