Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has described Mesut Ozil as a "huge talent" and admits that he has been surprised to see his compatriot struggle to hold down a regular spot in Arsenal's side.
Ozil was brought back into the starting lineup for Tuesday's 2-1 win over Cardiff City after making just once appearance since being hooked off in the 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion on Boxing Day.
Unai Emery has admitted to having concerns over the 30-year-old's workrate and has even left him out of his squad entirely for certain key games, but Gundogan insists that Ozil is a player that can make things happen for Arsenal.
Asked to compare his former Germany teammate to current City colleague Kevin De Bruyne, Gundogan told Sport360: "Both are game changers. Kevin is a little bit more aggressive in his style and, at Mesut's best, both are on a similar level.
"I think people always criticise Mesut because they think his attitude on the pitch is not a good one, that he doesn't care that much. But I think people just struggle to accept that you can have the more emotional kind of players, the more aggressive ones and you have players like him, you know, that need maybe this calmness for their game.
"It looks a bit more elegant and slow, but believe me it's so difficult to defend against these kind of players. They make everything look so easy and I think sometimes you forget to appreciate these kind of things. Obviously we always watch games and, even me, we always think we know better. But on the pitch it's always a different story.
"A player like him, with his huge talent, I don't think it just surprises just me, but a lot of people, that he doesn't play regularly."
Ozil is in contention to start for Arsenal against Gundogan's City on Sunday afternoon.
Daniel Lewis
