Arsenal captain is a role model 'professional' says Mesut Ozil

Arsenal news Santi Cazorla

Arsenal captain Per Mertesacker is a role model professional according to teammate Mesut Özil.

Speaking to Arsenal Player Özil said: “He’s very focused, very professional,” he told Arsenal Player. “He does his job 100 per cent – he’s not the sort of person who does things by half measures.

“He’s rather the sort of person who, if he has something in his head, wants to see it through. He looks after himself and his diet, and before matches he does his exercises to make sure that he stays fit and doesn’t pick up any injuries.”

Özil is Mertesacker’s teammate for both Arsenal and the German national team. The duo won the 2014 World Cup in Brazil last last as well as two consecutive FA Cup trophies and most recently the Community Shield.

Mertsesacker was also full of praise for Özil and believes he has unfairly judged in England.

“In Germany there are often only small parts of our games aired on TV or the opinions of English journalists are simply accepted,” Mertesackler told transfermarkt.de (via Goal).

Özil and Mertesacker both featured in the Gunners side that beat Chelsea 1-0 in the Community Shield last weekend.

The Arsenal playmaker has yet to lose a final with the North London based club since joining on a £42.5 million move back in 2013.

Arsenal take on West Ham in their opening game of the 2015-16 season this weekend both Özil and Mertesacker are expected to start.

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