Mesut Ozil says he's "very proud" to be seen as a role model and enjoys meeting people from different cultures while playing for Arsenal.
Ozil, 26, was born in Germany to Turkish parents and he told Arsenal's website he tries to set an example to show how integration has progressed in his home country.
"I'm very proud but our task is to play football," he said. "Integration is a difficult topic. The best example is the German national team because lots of people from other cultures come together and play with respect. That's how it should be in general life.
"You should be open with one another, you should treat each other with respect. If that happened, things would look different, also in general."
The Premier League features the most nationalities of the top five leagues in Europe, according to a recent study, and Ozil said he enjoys the opportunities to play with and against footballers from around the world.
"I was and still am very open when I meet people," Ozil said. "It was like that at Arsenal too. When I joined the club, I knew some players from playing alongside them in the national team or at Werder Bremen. But in general, I enjoy being able to meet new people and experience new cultures.
"I lived in Spain and got to know the wonderful culture and people there. Now I'm in England, where I'm learning the language and the culture.
"I love what I do and I'm thankful that football helps me develop myself by learning new languages and different cultures. I'm proud of that."