Arsène Wenger defended Mesut Özil yesterday, saying that the midfielder’s qualities are not fully recognised. The Arsenal manager, however, conceded that it could be another month before the player has shaken off the after-effects of Germany’s World Cup success and returns to his best form.

Wenger acknowledges that his player’s non-combative style does not win everybody over and that the quality of Özil’s contribution is not always apparent, even to the manager himself.

A stuttering performance in the Champions League qualifying victory over Besiktas on Wednesday provided a reminder of the inconsistency that marked Özil’s first season in the Barclays Premier League after his £42 million transfer from Real Madrid last year, while also confirming the draining effects of a gruelling summer.

Wenger pointed out