‘Killer’ Ozil has transformed his game, says Wenger

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes Mesut Ozil is a completely different player to the one that arrived at the Emirates Stadium having transformed his mindset.

The 28-year-old German international scored a magnificent winner in the Gunners’ dramatic Champions League victory over Bulgarian side Ludogorets on Tuesday, and Wenger believes he has changed his role from being a supplier of goals to a lethal hitman.

After arriving from Real Madrid for a club-record fee three seasons ago, Ozil quickly established himself as one of the Premier League’s top playmakers, notching up a remarkable 19 assists in league football last season, as well as eight goals in all competitions.

But with seven goals already to his name this term, this season looks certain to be Ozil’s most prolific to date, and Wenger – whose side face bitter rivals Spurs on Sunday – is adamant that is down to a ruthless streak he has cultivated in North London.

“The difference today is he focuses more on efficiency,” Wenger said. “When he arrived here he was more focused on playing. Today efficiency is more in his mind.

“The main transformation we got from him [is that he] makes more runs in behind to score goals. I always encouraged him. I convinced him that he has it in his locker to score goals.

“He was more focused on giving and looking [before] – today he understands that he can have those qualities but as well be on the end of things.

“The timing of his runs is good. In training I noticed he is a very good finisher. When you have that in your locker, you have to try to get it out. Slowly, he now realises that.

“On top of that he has a fantastic attribute of a guy who is a good finisher – he is calm. You notice all the finishers are killers. That means they keep their nerve in front of goal and he has that.

“What you want from him is that he continues to play like he does at the moment. That means make the runs like he did in Sofia on Tuesday.”