Mesut Ozil's poor World Cup display was down to the midfielder 'playing with the handbrake on', according to his former manager Arsene Wenger.

Ozil was far from his creative best playing for Germany in Russia as the defending champions suffered a shock exit in the group stages.

The 29-year-old started the opening defeat by Mexico before being dropped by manager Joachim Low for Germany's only World Cup win, 3-2 over Sweden.

Mesut Ozil endured a poor World Cup as Germany were dumped out in the group stages

Ozil was restored to the starting XI against South Korea but delivered an ineffectual performance as Germany suffered a shock loss to end their tournament prematurely.

And Wenger, who coached Ozil at Arsenal for five seasons before leaving north London this summer, believes the midfielder was playing without a killer instinct.

'When I watched him play, I could feel there were situations in the game where he could have moved forward, progressed and played more vertical,' Wenger told beIN Sports.

'He played security. I was thinking come on, that is not the real Ozil I know, the guy who can kill,' Wenger added. 'He played alright, but he didn't play with complete freedom and played with the handbrake on this World Cup for Germany.'

Ozil's former manager Arsene Wenger thinks Ozil 'played with the handbrake on' for Germany

The midfielder shows the strain as Germany were dumped out by losing 2-0 to South Korea

Ozil and Germany team-mate Ilkay Gundogan caused controversy ahead of the World Cup when they posed with controversial Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan ahead of the tournament.

Both players, who are of Turkish descent, were jeered by Germany fans in their warm-up friendlies and Wenger believes the atmosphere contributed to Ozil's poor showing.

'Him and [Ilkay] Gundogan suffered with what happened before the World Cup because they have been vilified in Germany,' Wenger said. 'Ozil is a guy who needs support, he doesn't need controversy.'

Wenger coached Ozil for five seasons at Arsenal before leaving as manager this summer

Ozil has won Germany's Player of the Year in five of the past seven seasons but the midfielder's father has suggested he should retire from international football after the reception he received in Russia.

'If I were in his place, I would say: "Thank you, but that's enough,"' Ozil senior told Bild. 'He's bent, disappointed and offended, yes, offended, his own fans booed him before the World Cup at the international in Austria and he cannot understand why.

'He doesn't always have to defend himself. He's played in the national team for nine years… and became a world champion.

'It's always said that if we win, we win together, but if we lose, we lose because of Ozil. He's booed and put up as a scapegoat – I completely understand that he is offended.'