Mesut Ozil has revealed how he helped convince Shkodran Mustafi to join Arsenal this summer.
The Germany international has proved a hit since moving from Valencia and has struck up a fine relationship with Laurent Koscielny in the heart of the Arsenal defence.
The duo have kept clean sheets in their last three games for the Gunners and Ozil revealed he discussed the club with his Germany international team-mate prior to his move.
“I’ve known Shkodran from the German national team and we spoke a lot about this club before his transfer,” he said according to the Evening Standard.
“He had a few questions about the team, the manager and the city. We spoke about things and I was pleased that he eventually decided to move here.
“I was pleased to help him because I’ve been here for a few years and he asked a few questions that I could answer because I’m here every day. I could tell him how things are. It was good for him to decide that he could further develop here and that’s what he’s doing.”
Ozil also praised the quality of fellow summer signings Lucas Perez and Granit Xhaka and has been impressed by the way they have settled into life at the club.
“They’ve been fully integrated from the first day,” he added. “They are guys who just get on with everyone and bring positive energy to the team.
“I can say a lot about Xhaka, too. He’s a really positive guy, very down to Earth and we’ve already seen that he can score goals. He’s got a left hammer! Musti can help us a lot, too. He’s got plenty of defensive quality and it is clear both players have strengthened the squad.”
Mustafi looks like a shrewd bit of business by the Gunners and Ozil’s role in his arrival only highlights how important the German is to the club both on and off the pitch.