Mesut Ozil says he is “thankful” Arsene Wenger was his coach and hopes to see the former Arsenal boss return to club management.
Wenger signed Ozil from Real Madrid in September 2013 and the pair went on to win three FA Cups together before the Frenchman left Arsenal at the end of last season after 22 years at the club.
Ozil has played a key part in Arsenal’s recent form, with Unai Emery’s side winning their last 10 matches in all competitions following Monday’s 3-1 victory over Leicester.
As part of a Twitter Q&A, the 30-year-old praised Wenger, who recently expressed his intention to return to football in January, and said he would like to see him back in the dugout soon.
“He always protected and supported me the best way he could,” Ozil said.
“I’m very thankful he was my coach. Would love to see him as a club manager again.”
Ozil also said he was still a Germany supporter despite the controversial circumstances surrounding his international retirement.
The 2014 World Cup winner quit playing for his country in July and accused some German FA officials of racism after the fallout created over previously posing for a photograph with Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The German FA (DFB) have rejected Ozil’s accusations of racism.
However, Ozil said he is still following the national side and is a Germany supporter.
“I’ve always been supporting the DFB Team since my childhood and I’ve still many friends playing for the German National Team,” he said. “Of course I’m still supporting the team!”
Elsewhere, Ozil listed Matteo Guendouzi as the top young player at Arsenal, and claimed Cristiano Ronaldo is the best player he has played with and Lionel Messi the best he has played against.
