• World Cup

'Experienced' Ozil demands more respect

ESPN staff
June 12, 2014
Mesut Ozil joined Arsenal for a club record fee last summer © Getty Images
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Mesut Ozil claims he deserves more respect and has "earned" the trust of Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and Germany coach Joachim Loew.

Ozil joined Arsenal last summer for a club record £42.5 million but had an inconsistent debut campaign in the Premier League.

He was booed by a section of Germany fans during the side's recent friendly against Cameroon, while he was also singled out by the national team's supporters against Chile in March.

"I am no longer a talent but an experienced player who has played in three countries. I take responsibility," Ozil told Sport Bild as he hit back at recent criticism.

Ozil's place in the Arsenal team was questioned following his penalty miss against Bayern Munich in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League encounter in February.

Wenger defended his most expensive signing at the time and Ozil bounced back to end the season helping Arsenal win the FA Cup to end their nine-year run without a trophy.

"The FA Cup win means that I have won three finals," Ozil added. "I was voted Germany player of the year three times running and in the team of the year in England - always by the fans. And that is also important to me.

"I feel that I have the trust of Joachim Loew and Arsene Wenger and that I have earned it. I am now 25 years old and at that age every footballer in the world plays in a different way to what he did when he was 21.

"And, of course, my role at Arsenal is different insomuch that I have more responsibility than I did at Real [Madrid]. And I like that."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
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