Mesut Ozil: Retired Star Says Former Club Arsenal Deserve Premier League Title

• Mesut Ozil announced his retirement from professional football earlier this week at 34
• The German spent the majority of his peak years at Arsenal before departing Emirates two years ago
• He weighed in on the club's Premier League title race with Manchester City

Mesut Ozil shocked the world when he announced his retirement from professional football earlier this week at 34, having last played for Istanbul Basaksehir.

He played for some of the best clubs in the world and spent most of his peak years at Arsenal, having worn the red and white shirt for eight years between 2013 and 2021.

The German won four FA Cups, including three consecutive ones under Arsene Wenger, but his final days and departure at the club were sour after he was frozen out of the team before his contract was mutually terminated.

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Ozil was honest about his time at Arsenal, admitting the earlier days under Wenger were good, but the years after the French boss was not exactly good, as reported by Mirror UK.

Ozil: Arsenal deserve Premier League

The 34-year-old reflected on his years as a Gunners but was quick to put it behind him and wish the club well in their pursuit of the Premier League title in an interview with Marca.

''The first years were very good. We played in the Champions League, we had a great team with great players and an incredible coach like Arsene Wenger,'' he said. ''After he left the club, many things changed for me. But I have no interest in adding fuel to the fire again.

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''Now I am relaxed and I wish the best to the Arsenal fans, who have always been very supportive of me. I would be happy for them if they could celebrate the Premier League title. They deserve it!''

Mikel Arteta's team are eight points clear of second-placed Manchester City, who have a game in hand. A visit from Leeds to the Emirates Stadium awaits the league leaders after the international break.

Ozil holds a unique PL record

Sports Brief reported that Ozil holds a unique Premier League record that has stood for seven years and would be hard to break.

The German star created 146 chances for teammates in the 2015/16 season, a record which has stood since that time. The closest anyone was close to it was Kevin De Bruyne, with 136 four years later.