Arsene Wenger downplays Mesut Ozil to Manchester United links

Arsene Wenger has insisted that it is "difficult to believe" Mesut Ozil wants to leave Arsenal when he produces a performance like the one witnessed against Everton.

The 29-year-old has been tipped to leave the Emirates Stadium as a free agent at the end of the campaign after turning down the offer of a new deal.

Reports emerged earlier this week suggesting that Ozil has informed his Arsenal teammates of his desire to reunite with Jose Mourinho at Manchester United, but Wenger believes that the German midfielder left all his talking for the field with his "superb" display at Goodison Park.

"We live in an environment where we have to deal with the news and the players and myself have only always one response, which is what's happening on the football pitch," he told reporters.

"When you see Mesut on the football pitch like he is today, enjoying his game like he is today, it's difficult to believe these kind of things.

"He was superb. Agile, quick, intelligent. Always at the service of the team with his quality of his passing and when he is at that level, he is an exceptional football player."

Ozil scored one and set up another in Arsenal's 5-2 victory against Everton, helping his side to climb back up to fifth place in the Premier League table.