Mesut Özil has said he is in no rush to renew his contract with Arsenal, which expires in 2018. Photograph: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
The Arsenal foward was again instrumental in the 2-1 win against Manchester City on Monday night as the Gunners closed the gap to Leicester to two points at the top of the table and has had arguably his best year in football. And this week he revealed the reasons behind him hitting top form, in a long interview with the German magazine Kicker.
“The biggest change started when I was injured last year and I changed my diet and started to look at the small details in my life,” the 27-year-old said. “For example I started to have physiotherapy on my days off and made sure I had a good sleep. That is crucial over here [in England]. It is the fastest league in the world and we often play twice a week with no winter break.
“I also missed football a lot when I was injured and I don’t want that to happen again,” Özil added. “That’s why I am doing everything I can to avoid it now. It is also the case that when you are playing well you get more confident. The team is more mature and more consistent this season and I get a lot of help on the pitch. It is only because of their help I can do my best.”
Özil has 15 assists already this season after registering another two against City and is only five away from equalling the Premier League record, set by Thierry Henry in 2002-03. He is in no rush, however, to enter contract talks with Arsenalwith two and a half years still left on his deal.
“My contract runs until 2018, that is for another two and a half years,” he said. “There is no need to hurry. There are no talks at the moment but I can only say that I am very happy in London and that my decision to come here from Real Madrid was the right one. There is not a single day, apart from when I was injured, that I have not felt great at Arsenal.”
