Hamann: Ozil signing is step in the right direction for Arsenal

Dietmar Hamann has hailed Arsenal’s club-record signing of Mesut Ozil – but is still not sure the Gunners have what it takes to challenge for the Premier League title.

Arsenal snapped up the 24-year-old playmaker in a £42.5m deal from Real Madrid on transfer deadline day as Arsene Wenger bolstered his squad with a view to ending the club’s eight-year wait for a major trophy.

And although former Liverpool midfielder Hamann is impressed with the north Londoners’ latest recruit, the 40-year-old still feels the Gunners are not quite ready to challenge for the league title.

“With the pace of [Theo] Walcott, the trickery of [Santi] Cazorla, the physicality of [Olivier] Giroud, [Ozil] will create a lot of chances for Arsenal and I think he’s a top, top signing,” Hamann told Goal.

“Whether it’s enough for them to challenge for the title, I’m not too sure, but it certainly is a step in the right direction.

“I think he is a fantastic player, I think he’s a fantastic signing for Arsenal – I think he’ll improve the team no end.

“He has more assists over the last four or five years than any other player in Europe and he can create and score a goal out of nothing – and I don’t think there are too many players of that calibre.

“David Silva played a similar role at Manchester City when they won the league and I think he’s a similar type of player who’s always available, rarely gives the ball away, and you know, once he’s got the ball, that something’s going to happen.”