Arsenal midfielder Mesut Özil has slammed big money transfer fees after a record breaking summer in the Premier League.

Over the course of the transfer window, Manchester United parted with up to €80m (£58m) for Anthony Martial while rivals Manchester City spent a similar fee on Kevin de Bruyne. The Citizens also signed Raheem Sterling for almost as much, and Özil thinks it is ridiculous.

“No individual around the world is worth €50m,” said the German, who cost Arsenal that exact fee two years ago.

“That’s why in football we have to be careful to not lose our grip on reality and it is also important that, through the opportunities football offers, we do good and help.”

Many clubs around Germany are showing their support for aid given to refugees, who Arsenal fans and officials continue to show their support and raise money for the desperate situation.

Back on the pitch, Özil is targeting the Premier League title despite Arsenal’s start to the campaign. The Gunners have struggled to find top form, but the German World Cup winner knows the squad is strong enough to become champions of England.

“We were the best team in the second half of the season [last season] – we went on a roll and recorded 13 wins.

“The team has not changed that much, so why shouldn’t we be able to achieve that just a bit earlier this season?”

With so much talent in the side, it must be a matter of time until the Gunners click.

When they do, with Özil fully fit and in top form, they will be a huge force. Hopefully the team will be able to sustain it long enough to catch up with big-spending Manchester City, who are already five points clear of Arsenal.

If we can catch them, it’ll be in no small part thanks to our €50m man and I have to disagree with him: he was worth every penny.