Werder Bremen winger Serge Gnabry has told kicker that Mesut Ozil is a "good role model" for him after being compared to his former Arsenal teammate.
Former Germany under-21 boss Horst Hrubesch, who was in charge of the Olympic side when Gnabry excelled in Rio de Janeiro this summer, said the 21-year-old "can play a career like Mesut Ozil."
When asked about the comparison, Gnabry said: "Sure, Mesut is a good role model, and I learned a lot by watching him at Arsenal."
Gnabry joined Bremen from Arsenal during the final days of the summer transfer window and has made an immediate impact for the Bundesliga strugglers, scoring three goals and setting up one more despite the club's struggles at the foot of the table.
However, he said he is not getting carried away by the recent praise.
"Everyone should see whether he's becoming arrogant or too cautious," he said.
Gnabry has also become a leader off the pitch, notably defending new teammate Ousman Manneh following his recent performance in a 3-1 loss at RB Leipzig, telling reporters that the 19-year-old refugee-turned-professional footballer "has a different past than we have" and urging them to include that in their criticism.
Following Bremen's 3-1 home defeat to Freiburg at the weekend, the club remain 15th in the league table, just one place and one point above the relegation/promotion playoff place.