Under-fire Oezil insists he has nothing to prove
Mesut Oezil insists that he has nothing to prove to his critics, no matter how they target him.
The Arsenal playmaker, who has been heavily criticised by media outlets in the UK as well as his native Germany in recent weeks, delivered a riposte to his detractors with a commanding performance in the English Premier League over the weekend to help Arsenal to a 3-0 win over Aston Villa as he scored his team's first goal before setting up the second in a two-minute space.
While he accepts that criticism will follow him wherever he goes, Oezil believes in his own abilities and is confident of his contributions to the team.
Just getting started
Speaking to German news agency DPA, the 25-year-old World Cup winner said: "I don't play to prove anything to anybody, I play for Arsenal.
"I have the feeling that I am criticised more, that happened to me in the Bundesliga and also at Real Madrid.
"We have only just started the season (at Arsenal), we have new players in key positions. The collective game, which is something I have a lot to do with, cannot then just work well from one day to the next.
"(Just) 10 weeks ago I was elected to the team of the season in England (via an internet poll on the Premier League website).
"I was world champion then. It was the summer break and after a few games (of the new season) everything is called into question again. This is strange, but I know what I can offer."
Source: PA Sport
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