Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said that he is reluctant to place "too much pressure" on £42m playmaker Mesut Ozil.

The German international started his Gunners career brightly after he became the club's most expensive player of all time at the end of the summer transfer window, but has failed to hit the heights of his early days of late.

"He's done well and he's adapting to the Premier League," Wenger told reporters.

"He's conscious of working very hard and it's important not to put too much pressure on him. He's been a top-class player until now and he didn't have the best of games [against Liverpool] and that can happen.

"He's an exceptional footballer, he knows that when he's not good enough you get criticised and questioned. It's normal, but I want to see the best him until the end of the season."

The Gunners are currently second in the Premier League.

Written by
Paul Gorst