Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil has revealed he wants to wear Jack Wilshere’s No.10 shirt for the Gunners.
The number isn’t being used by the north Londoners this season after England playmaker Wilshere moved to Bournemouth on a season-long loan deal. Wilshere inherited the No.10 shirt in 2012 after it was vacated by Robin van Persie when he moved to Manchester United.
Ozil has worn the No.11 jersey for Arsenal since his £42.5million switch to the Emirates from Real Madrid in 2013. In 17 appearances so far this term, the midfielder has netted 5 times and created 45 chances, which proves he is the actual playmaker, number 10 in the team.
The 28-year-old playmaker already wears the No 10 for his country following Lukas Podolski’s retirement from international football.
And the German midfielder has admitted he would be keen to take Wilshere’s number, if the opportunity arises.
“Since Wilshere’s departure last summer, the number is free, but I have yet to get it,” he stated.
Wenger’s current deal with the Emirates Stadium club expires at the end of the season and he is yet to renew it. The Germany international’s contract runs out in summer 2018 but there are concerns he will not extend it before then. Ozil revealed in the same interview that he would make a decision on whether or not to extend his contract with Arsenal dependent on Arsene Wenger’s future.
“I am very, very happy at Arsenal and have let the club know that I would be ready to sign a new contract,” he said. “The fans want that I stay and now it is just down to the club.
“The club knows that I am here most of all because of Arsène Wenger. He is the one who signed me and he is the one whose trust I have. The club also knows that I want to be clear what the manager is going to [do in the future].”
The Gunners, who are currently 5th in the league, will face Swansea City in the Premier League on Saturday.