by Lewis Ambrose

In an interview with German magazine kicker, Mesut Özil has spoken about the 2014/15 season, his injury, his ambition, and the German national team.

The FA Cup is a start, but it isn’t enough.

“When you complete the season with the FA Cup it is of course a successful year,” Mesut Özil tells German magazine kicker as he prepares to represent his country once again before he can head on his holidays.

“Before my transfer Arsenal were (nine) years without a trophy, and now I’ve had the fortune to win the cup twice in a row.

“That makes me proud and overjoyed.”

It’s no coincidence that Arsenal’s trophy drought has ended since we signed the German, and more is on his agenda next season.

Potential

Özil missed three months after a knee injury in October, and he wasn’t the only one.

With Laurent Koscielny, Mikel Arteta, Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Olivier Giroud all missing large parts of the season Arsenal found themselves 12 points behind just a week into November.

The remaining 27 games saw Arsenal lose no ground on Chelsea, but it was too little too late – the title race was run before the season even got going.

With everyone fit, Özil backs this squad to challenge.

“For us in the first half of the season many important players were injured.

“But in the second half of the season everyone was fit, we got 42 points, the most. More than Chelsea and more than Manchester (City).

“There you have seen what we’re capable of.”

Özil sounds confident that the form when everyone was available signifies that we are strong enough to challenge, and who can blame him?

“I’m convinced of it: if for the new season everyone is fit, we have the potential to win the league and also go very far in the CL.”

Players the quality of Özil deserve to win the highest honours. If everyone stays fit he’s right – we do have the potential to compete with anyone.

Personal

If we do win the league he shows no signs of being content – Özil is chasing further personal success, too.

He has recently claimed that he wants to win the Ballon d’Or, but doesn’t want to be Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo.

“I don’t want to measure myself with them,” said the German.

“My aim is to look at me and not others.

“If it works, I’m happy. If not, I’m not sad.

“In a performance sport you must be ambitious and set big goals.”

You cannot question Özil’s ambition, or his drive.

He doesn’t show it but he is incredibly driven.

It isn’t the end of the world if he’s never crowned the best player on the planet, but he is talented and determined enough to aim for it.

Mesut Özil wants to be at the very top.

It’s where he belongs.