MX23RW : Friday, November 15 21:32:51| >> :60:1470:1470:

Mesut Ozil sends message of support to Joe Willock, Reiss Nelson

Mesut Ozil sends message of support to Joe Willock, Reiss Nelson
© Reuters
The former German midfielder has yet to feature for Arsenal this season, while Willock and Nelson have started both Premier League games so far.

Mesut Ozil has told Arsenal's rising stars Joe Willock and Reiss Nelson to keep believing in their own ability as Unai Emery's squad look to maintain an impressive start to the new campaign.

Midfielder Willock, 20, and forward Nelson, 19, have started both of the Gunners' opening Premier League matches.

Head coach Emery could opt to make changes for the trip to Liverpool on Saturday, where his side will aim to make it three straight wins.

Reiss Nelson, pictured, and Joe Willock have started both Premier League matches this season
Reiss Nelson, pictured, and Joe Willock have started both Premier League matches this season (Nick Potts/PA)

Ozil feels keeping focused on what got them into the first team will help them overcome the many personal challenges ahead.

"I just want to say that the most important thing is to believe in yourself," Ozil told Arsenal Player.

"Of course you have some days when it doesn't go so well, but you have to believe in yourself, keep working and the most important thing is to have fun.

"If you don't have fun, if you are losing and you make mistakes you will be disappointed. But don't listen to anyone, you know how good you are, believe in yourself and have fun."

Former Germany international Ozil has yet to feature for Arsenal this season.

Along with team-mate Sead Kolasinac, the 30-year-old was a victim of an attempted car-jacking last month and did not travel to Newcastle for the first match of the new campaign as the police investigated "further security incidents".

Ozil then missed last weekend's win at Burnley because of illness.

Having come through the youth ranks at Shalke to go on and play for Werder Bremen and then Real Madrid before joining Arsenal in September 2013, Ozil knows just how challenging continued progress for a talented youngster can be.

"I was nervous (when I entered the first-team dressing room at Schalke), but also excited because it was the first time I spent time with the players," he said.

"I was very, very quiet. I didn't speak a lot in the dressing room, I was just looking to the left and the right and couldn't believe I was here now playing with them. It was a great moment for me.

"I was just looking and thinking, 'Oh my God, now I am here! Now I have to show my quality'.

"It was easier for me to show my potential on the pitch because they all helped me a lot. They stood behind me, so I was able to just enjoy playing football."

Ozil added: "I was always giving everything to play in training, and after that if I'm not in the squad, or didn't play those players always came to me and showed their respect.

"They spoke to me and told me I have a lot of quality, be calm, believe in yourself and your time will come."

ID:368772: cacheID:368772:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:14372:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Matteo Guendouzi in action for Arsenal on July 28, 2019
Read Next:
Guendouzi set for new five-year Arsenal deal?
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City117222213923
3Chelsea115422113819
4Arsenal115421812619
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest115421510519
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton115421915419
7Fulham115331613318
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
9Aston Villa115331717018
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1151523131016
11Brentford115152222016
12Bournemouth114341515015
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Leicester CityLeicester112451421-710
16Everton112451017-710
17Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
18Crystal Palace11146815-77
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves111371627-116
20Southampton11119721-144


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!