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.

First of all, Mesut Özil is clearly a ‘confidence player’.

“When I feel the confidence of the coach I definitely have more self-confidence,” the German said.

“With Arsène Wenger I always feel his confidence.”

Confident or not, Mesut Özil returned from the World Cup in Brazil and didn’t appear to be brimming with confidence.

Wide

During Germany’s success at the World Cup Özil was used out wide, and that continued when he came back to Arsenal.

It didn’t really take, and his season was reignited when he was moved back into a central role after recovering from injury.

“Everyone knows it’s my favourite position, that I play my game best there, and that there I have the freedom that I don’t have on the wing,” said the Arsenal star.

When he’s in the middle he does end up on both flanks, as well as coming deep for the ball.

Dictate

He found himself there when he returned, and made the most of it.

He can dictate play – the tempo, the opposition, the spaces on the pitch.

When given a role where he can roam, he wreaks havoc, and Arsenal look better with him back in the middle.

“We played a very good second half of the season with that formation,” said Özil.

“That’s why I do think I have already asserted myself there.”

His often quiet impact in our midfield is perhaps best summarised this season by an Olivier Giroud goal against West Ham.

Özil told Per Mertesacker when and where to lay a pass, which wasn’t even for Özil but Aaron Ramsey.

A one-two with Ramsey saw Özil lay the ball into Ramsey’s path where he had no choice but to burst into the space in the West Ham defence.

With more subtlety he created a huge amount of space for Nacho Monreal’s goal at Old Trafford by playing a simple pass and taking one step backwards.

It’s genius.

Ego

But he doesn’t need to be the star, and he doesn’t need to be in his position.

“I would never seek to request this position and I would also never moan when I am put elsewhere.

“Above all I play for the team, not my ego.”

That’s the case for both club and country.

“That was the same at the WM, Marco Reus was injured therefore I had to be on the left wing,” Özil said.

His performances during that tournament were criticised in some quarters.

“Had I played ‘10’ in Brazil I would have brought a completely different performance.

“What mattered was that we were world champions.”

That sums him up – all that matters is that his team is successful.

With Mesut Özil any team can be successful.

With Mesut Özil playing in his best role, you have a far better chance.