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Mesut Ozil went back to his ­childhood to become part of the Arsenal family.

He first started playing football as a kid in Gelsenkirchen in what was known as the “monkey cage”, helping explain his close control, ability under pressure and skill that has lit up the Premier League.

This week, the memories came flooding back when he had a kickabout at Dennis Bergkamp’s Cruyff Court with a group from one of The Arsenal Foundation’s beneficiaries - Freedom From Torture, who use football as a therapeutic tool.

“It did remind me of that,” said Germany international Ozil. “The one I played in as a boy was worse than this one because the surface was much rougher, there were stones and it really hurt when you fell. It partly shaped the way I play, it teaches you something.

“I’m really proud to be part of this Arsenal family here.

“As a footballer, we’re out and about, on the road all of the time, it’s great to just stop for a moment, see these things.

“It’s actually what I said right when I joined Arsenal. When people tried to convince me when I came here, it was that family spirit at Arsenal which convinced me mainly. This is exactly part of that, what we’ve seen here.”

Ozil, 25, his colleagues in the first-team squad and boss Arsene Wenger are donating a day’s wages to the Gunners' charity ­partners for Everton’s visit on Sunday.

It is a gesture which, like the rest of the club’s philosophy, Ozil has bought into.

For a world-class player and Arsenal’s £42million record signing, the Germany star has no ego and appears softly spoken and humble.

After signing on deadline day, Ozil insisted on going round the whole club - from accounts to catering - to introduce himself.

He is enjoying his new life and the change of pace from Real Madrid. But if there is anything he took from his time in Spain it was handling the expectation that goes with such a huge fee.

Ozil smiles when asked if he feels the pressure at Arsenal as he was bought to try to help win them the title this season.

“I’ve played for Real Madrid, where the pressure is so huge because you have to go and really win absolutely every game,” he said.

“So after having played there for three years, pressure doesn’t scare me. That’s why I don’t really feel the pressure. The second thing is that what I do on a daily basis is what I love.

“I love playing football so I go out to play football and I don’t really feel ­pressure. Of course, there are some days when things don’t work out as well as on other days but that doesn’t have anything to do with pressure.”

Ozil has found a house in London and is adapting to English football - and a hectic fixture list which he reveals is described in Germany as “English weeks.”

Also telling is his admiration for Wenger.

“He was the one who convinced me to come here and now I can say that I couldn’t be any happier than to be here,” added Ozil. “He really loves ­football. I hope he will stay here for many more years and be successful.

“I think this really has been the perfect step for me to come and join this club. We have some very talented players here and this is why I think we can achieve something great.

"We have to develop further to achieve this, but we can do it.”

Arsenal’s match against Everton tomorrow is dedicated to The Arsenal Foundation. Arsene Wenger and the first-team squad will donate a day’s wages to support a variety of projects which reach young people to transform lives. For more information and to donate visit www.arsenal.com/thearsenalfoundation.