Arsene Wenger has admitted that Mesut Ozil struggles with criticism at times but added he ‘embraces the challenge’ of big games.

The German is often heavily criticised for what people think is a lack of desire when it’s simply just how his body moves.

More often than not, Ozil is far more effective than other players who run around non-stop, yet because he doesn’t give the impression of wanting to run through brick walls, he is the first to receive extensive criticism when things go wrong for Arsenal.

“I think he embraces the challenge to play big games,” Wenger said in quotes reported by the Daily Mail. “Does he embrace the challenge to be criticised? I’m not sure. Does he like to be criticised? I’m not sure. [edit – who does?]

“Big players have to carry the responsibility of the team. People look at it like that.

“Does it suit him having responsibility? I don’t know. I’m not sure.

“Yes he needs (tough love). We had some good conversations with him as well,” added Wenger.

“Overall the big players get more criticised than the others. Secondly, his style is more fluid, less aggressive but it doesn’t mean you want it less than others. 

“At the end of the day you want all your players to be at their best in every single game so when they don’t achieve that of course you are frustrated but we are only human beings and you have to accept the ups and downs.”

Although it is being reported that Mesut Ozil is stalling over a new deal because of money and that there are no other clubs interested in him, you have to think this is a load of nonsense. Should Ozil be made available this summer he would have no shortage of offers.

Thankfully, after his most recent interview, it seems like he would prefer to stay at Arsenal.

“Before we spend big money we analyse all the aspects of commitments because we have not only Mesut Ozil and Sanchez to extend,” Wenger continued.

“We have many other players to extend and you have to make sure you have the resources available to extend the other players that you think are needed to be successful in the future.”

Different quotes

In report on a different site, Wenger’s comments were reported as, “I believe to just criticise Mesut Ozil’s performance against Spurs does not reflect exactly what happened on the pitch.

“Overall I believe recently he has put a lot of effort in. He was a bit, like the rest of the team, not physically at his best.

“I felt that we gave a lot beforehand and had not completely recovered for the game. And he was one of them as well. But we have looked at this physical performances and they have been at a very high level.

“And at the end of the day his style is his style and what you measure with Ozil is his efficiency. With that is the basic quality of retention and his creation of goal chances.

“Overall the big players get criticised more than the others. His style is more fluid, less aggressive but it doesn’t mean you want it less than others.

“Big players have to carry the responsibility of the team. People look at it like that. I think he embraces the challenge to play big games.

“You want all your players to be at their best in every single game so when they don’t achieve that of course you are frustrated.

“We know we are only human beings and you have to accept the ups and downs.”