Per Mertesacker reckons Mesut Ozil has it in him to bag over 20 assists a season when he reaches his full potential.

The centre-back, who has been benched recently in favour of Gabriel, much to the dismay of many Gooners, still thinks we’ve not seen the best from Ozil.

“I felt that when he was fit, he would be at his best – that was my prediction,” the German Arsenal Player.

“I hoped that he would stay fit so we would get the best out of him, that was just my simple idea. You could feel he would help us win games.

“He is [progressing], especially in the final third. We try to give him the ball to make the final decision or make the final ball because we know that is where he is at his best.

“When he fulfils his potential, he has 20-plus assists in him and has even got the ability of scoring 10-plus goals. When he can be difference between 30-plus points, it is vital for the team.

498623312 mesut oezil of arsenal celebrates scoring gettyimages
LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 24: Mesut Oezil of Arsenal (r) celebrates scoring his side’s first goal with Per Mertesacker of Arsenal during the UEFA Champions League match between Arsenal FC and GNK Dinamo Zagreb at Emirates Stadium on November 24, 2015 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

“I think he realises he can now grow here, even in a foreign country. He gets the respect now and it is going to be even tougher for him. Everyone tries to block his left foot because he is so dangerous with it.

“Now he needs to find different spots and positions where he can find solutions but I’m convinced he can take this challenge to be at his best and the player we need him to be.”

Although Ozil has been one of our stand out players this season, that doesn’t say a whole lot. His assists slowed down slightly, along with the rest of the team and without him performing like he did in the earlier parts of the season, we were stuck. Without our main man in ‘form’ we stopped scoring.

I have absolutely no doubt that Ozil could get over 20 assists a season. He’s not far off now! But he needs the players who are getting on the end of his balls (oo-er) to put them in the back of the net in order to get the assists. For Ozil to reach his full potential, he needs a decent striker in front of him.