Arsene Wenger has revealed Mesut Ozil rarely trains between matches as he looks to keep the in-form German at peak fitness.
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The 27-year-old is enjoying a purple patch and has already provided 16 assists in the Premier League this campaign, leading team-mate Theo Walcott to hail him as the season’s best player so far.
While the likes of Santi Cazorla, Jack Wilshere and Alexis Sanchez are out injured, Ozil has avoided any problems and become a pivotal part of an Arsenal side which sits top of the table ahead of today’s visit of Newcastle.
And Wenger, who was criticised for over-playing Sanchez before he pulled up with a hamstring injury against Norwich last month, is giving Ozil time to rest to avoid burnout.
“Mesut, I gave him a one-week holiday during the international break,” Wenger said. “At the moment he doesn’t practice a lot, we rest him a lot between the games.
Mesut Ozil is closing on Thierry Henry’s Premier League record for most assists in a season #SSNHQ pic.twitter.com/4qyWfnBfFF
— Sky Sports News HQ (@SkySportsNewsHQ) December 29, 2015
“He is a guy who once the basic fitness is there between the games, he wants to play. There are types of players, sometimes the most technical players, it looks like it demands less energy for them to play – it is just natural for them.”
Wenger also conceded he would find it difficult to pull Ozil out of his team at the moment given how well he is playing – and with a lack of quality in reserve due to injuries.
“I don’t have Wilshere or Cazorla who are number 10s,” he said. “I could rest him more if I had these players because Wilshere can play there and Cazorla can play there.
“You look as well at the impact he can have on other players. The Premier League is very tight and if you go in the decisive game and you do (rest Ozil or other star players), then other players think subconsciously, they don’t tell you, ‘why?’ – even the player himself.”
Meanwhile, Ozil’s team-mates are benefiting massively from the former Real Madrid man’s current form, with Walcott able to rely on him to provide plenty of goalscoring opportunities.
The England forward passed up several chances to get on the scoresheet in Monday’s 2-0 win over Bournemouth after being played in by the Germany midfielder on a number of occasions.
Ozil himself grabbed a goal having set up Gabriel’s opener with a corner and Walcott labelled him a “special player” as he continues to lead the Gunners’ title tilt.
“He has told me to just keep making runs, he just spots it,” Walcott said. “I need to help out by putting them in. Mesut is just in the form of his life, he is just a special player.”
