Arsenal legend Jens Lehmann believes Mesut Ozil is being held back from performing at his best by his own ‘German mentality’.
Ozil has fallen out of favour under Unai Emery and hasn’t played a game since he was substituted at half-time against Brighton on Boxing Day.
The 30-year-old has suffered a knee injury in that time, but Emery has admitted that at times this season he has left Ozil out of his squad on purpose for ‘tactical reasons’.
There are claims he could make his first appearance of 2019 in Friday’s FA Cup clash against Manchester United on talkSPORT, and the player has also hinted on social media that he could be involved in the game.
But it is clear the playmaker has lost his mojo this season, having managed just four goals and two assists.
And Lehmann believes his compatriot needs to do a very un-German thing, and ask his manager for help to get him out of this rut.
“Our Germany mentality is sometimes different”, the Invincibles goalkeeper told the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast.
“We don’t ask our managers or coaches to put an arm around us. If you have a problem on the pitch, you’re expected to sort it out yourself.
“When I came to England, my English team-mates told me about their mentality that actually sometimes you need an arm around you and that the manager is supposed to help you on the pitch.”