Mesut Ozil says becoming “a bit more selfish” will help him to score more this season.

The German has netted 12 times since arriving at Arsenal from Real Madrid on the final day of the 2013 summer transfer window.

Ozil set up Olivier Giroud’s opener at Crystal Palace earlier in August and, while the playmaker “thinks for the team first”, he hopes to find the net more himself this term.

"For me it’s not just goals and assists that mean everything, what’s more important is that we’re successful as a team"

“I want to score more goals than in the last two seasons and that’s my aim for this season,” he told Arsenal Player. “What’s important firstly is that we are successful as a team.

“That’s most crucial for us and as I said, for me it’s not just goals and assists that mean everything, what’s more important is that we’re successful as a team.

“My aim is to help the team and I’ll do all I can to achieve that. In truth I’m more the sort of player who doesn’t really go for goal, I tend to look for my team-mates and think, ‘Can I play this pass?’

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“I think now and then I need to become a bit more selfish - then I’d definitely score more goals.

“But I’m a player who thinks for the team first and not for my own needs and that’s why I will carry on to play the way I always do. I think that’s one of my distinguishing characteristics.”