Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil: This was the hardest season of my career

Mesut Ozil is desperate to bounce back from a tough campaign with Arsenal next season.

Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil

Mesut Ozil has described this season as the most difficult of his career – but underlined his desire to help Arsenal win the Premier League title next term.

The Germany playmaker missed a large portion of the campaign due to a knee ligament injury but return to action in the new year and helped Arsene Wenger’s men secure a third-placed finish in the league and defend their FA Cup title.

The 26-year-old admits that his lengthy spell on the sidelines was a difficult period for him but says that he is now determined to help the north London club win more trophies in the coming years.

“It was a very long season. I guess it was the hardest in my career,” Ozil told Kicker. “The first time in my life I had to deal with a serious injury. It feel it was a consequence of playing a lot games without a break over years.

“I was happy with the second half of the season. I wanted to show everybody that I’m back. Winning the FA Cup means it was a successful year. I’m proud of that win.

“My best moment [of the season] was the first game back after my injury against Stoke City. The fans cheered a lot when I was brought on. That was a brilliant feeling and helped me a lot.

“From then on I understood: no matter what happened, the club and the fans are always with me.

“But the most important think is the opinion of my coach. I have a lot more self-confidence when he is with me. I always had that feeling with Arsene Wenger.”

He added: “We had bad luck with injuries this season. But next season we can win the Premier League and go further in the Champions League.”

Ozil enjoyed a solid second half to the season at Arsenal after missing a large portion of the campaign due to injury.

He played most of last month’s FA Cup final triumph after scoring four goals and notching up five assists for the Gunners as Arsenal finish third in the Premier League table and qualified for the group stage of next season’s Champions League.