Arsene Wenger: Mesut Ozil can still have a big impact on Arsenal’s season

Arsene Wenger believes there is still time for Arsenal’s club-record signing Mesut Ozil to have a big impact this season.

The Germany international has endured a mixed first campaign in the Premier League following his £42.5m move from Real Madrid on transfer deadline day.

What I wish is that he can make a big impact for the rest of the season

Arsene Wenger

Ozil scored three goals and made four assists in his first seven games but the 25-year-old has only netted three times and created seven goals in his next 27 outings.

The former Madrid star is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury he suffered in March, but is expected to return to the squad for their trip to Hull on Sunday.

And Wenger revealed that Ozil has found the intensity of the Premier League much different to La Liga.

“Sometimes he was rested in Spain because he said in Spain, when Real Madrid are 2-0 up, what strikes him is that the teams give up. They know they will lose the game,” Wenger said.

“He said what is the most difficult for him here is that 2-0 up, the teams fight like mad to come back. And he felt that the main difference is that you have to fight until the last second of the game.

“He is capable to play 90 minutes because he basically has good stamina and good repeat potential. So I didn’t take him off many times because of that, because he has that potential.

“What I wish is that he can make a big impact for the rest of the season. He has prepared well and it depends how quickly he will come back into the pace of the game.”