TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Arsene Wenger has predicted that Mesut Ozil will be a contender for the Player of the Year award next season as he prepares to welcome back the midfielder for Arsenal's Premier League visit to Hull City on Sunday, as cited in The Guardian.
Ozil has not played since he tore his hamstring in the Champions League second leg at Bayern Munich on 11 March and the club-record signing's first season in English football has been marked by highs and lows. Wenger, though, is convinced that the German will be both mentally and physically stronger for the experience and ready to show greater consistency over his second season.
"Mesut had a period where he was tired because he was not used to playing through the [English] season," Wenger said. "Before he got injured, he had a period where he was a bit jaded. But he is a fantastic player and I would put him on the list to be player of the season next season.
"The first season is the season in which you adapt and then you know what will happen and you go into it. I believe he will know better his partners, he will know better the league and the potential is absolutely fantastic. The improvement will be in goals, assists and his presence in the game," said Wenger confidently.
THE GUARDIAN | DH
