<
>

Arsenal's Mesut Ozil relishing No. 10 role - 'I don't need goals for my ego'

Mesut Ozil has said his excellent form for Arsenal this season is down to him playing in a No. 10 position for the club.

Ozil, 27, has impressed for Arsenal, recording 11 assists in the Premier League and scoring three goals in all competitions.

The Germany international, who signed for the Gunners from Real Madrid for £42.5 million in 2013, said he is enjoying his football at Emirates Stadium.

"I am an absolute team player. I don't need goals for my ego," he told Sport 1. "Whoever is positioned best in front of the goal should shoot. But I understand that I need to try to score myself from time to time. I do that now."

"On top of it all, that I have my position as the No. 10 in midfield now. And you should also not forget that we've got a super team, and get along really well.

"We all know how the others play, and you also predict the running path of a teammate in a situation."

When asked whether his good run of form could make the difference in the title race, Ozil said: "Not because of Mesut Ozil, but with Mesut Ozil.

"We've twice won the FA Cup, and won the Charity Shield this summer too. We definitely want to improve that. Should we continue like that, and become just a tiny bit more consistent, it can work out. But the others don't sleep."

Prior to the season, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger challenged Ozil to score more goals, and, following his header in Tuesday's 3-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb, praised Ozil.

Wenger told BT Sport: ""He had an outstanding first half, he has got the taste for scoring now. "I've never seen him in the box so many times this season, especially in the last five or six games."