Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil had one of his best seasons – and probably most consistent – in an Arsenal shirt since his £ 42.5 million move from Real Madrid more than two years ago.
The Germany midfielder has been struggling with bouts of inconsistency, which has prevented him from making a major impact in the Arsenal team. Some even suggested that he was going to be the next Andrei Arshavin. The Russian midfielder became a major disappointment after an initial run of success at the Emirates stadium. Ozil, though, has finally showed the quality that he has within his ranks in the 2015-16 season.
The German finished just one short of matching the assist record set by Arsenal legend Thierry Henry. Ozil made 19 assists in the 2015-16 league campaign, but this figure could have been significantly better had he experienced a better end to the season. A majority of the assists made by Ozil came in the first half of the season. Ozil has revealed that the summer preparation was a crucial factor in adjusting to life in the Premier League, which does not have any winter break, after his move from Real Madrid. Many have criticised the lack of the winter break as being the reason for foreign players struggling to establish in the English league.
“I arrived from Real Madrid where the style of play is very different. It took me a few months to find my bearings. I also had to get used to a new environment. I feel that my problems were justified.I started the second season really well before getting injured. The key to my success this year was my summer preparation. For the first time since I got here, I was able to train properly. After training, I do muscle-building exercises,” said Mesut Ozil.