During Mesut Ozil’s ‘Arsenal album’ segment with the club’s official YouTube channel, the former Real Madrid star revealed that the Gunners had always been his first choice if he was to leave La Liga.

Although we already know that Arsene Wenger had a huge hand in persuading Ozil to move to north London, the German revealed recently that when he spoke to the boss on the phone, he informed him that Arsenal were first choice.

Ozil went on to explain that the type of players who have worn the Arsenal shirt over the years made him want to be part of it.

“I spoke with Wenger and he wanted me at Arsenal. I said ‘if I get the opportunity to change clubs, you’ll be the first [choice]’,” the 28-year-old said.

“So we spoke and I decided to come. I remember [Thierry] Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, Robert Pires – such great players – and I wanted to be a part of them.

“My first and second year we won the FA Cup. I really enjoy playing for such a big club like Arsenal.”

It’s fantastic to know we were always a club Ozil held in high regard and therefore the move to us wasn’t exactly the worst thing in the world. Quite the contrary, the midfielder is now not only enjoying life in London but is in fantastic form, playing week in, week out.

It’s great to have him.