Wenger: Ozil wants to stay with Arsenal
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is confident that playmaker extraordinaire Mesut Ozil will commit his long-term future to the Gunners, despite acknowledging it will take both significant funds and potentially a trophy or two to make it happen.
Ozil, 28, is under contract through the summer of 2018, and is expected to seek a hefty increase on his reported £140,000-a-week salary.
Wenger, acutely aware of the nature of these types of negotiations, remains adamant the German star will pledge his future to the north London giant.
Related - Wenger: Arsenal to begin contract talks with Ozil, Sanchez
"I don’t think he needs convincing (to stay)," Wenger said after the club's 3-2 win over Swansea at the weekend.
"He wants to stay here. If you have a good bank, call me."
The Strasbourg-born tactician was, as expected, not willing to confirm reports that the two sides are significantly apart on their valuation of a new deal, preferring instead to keep that information internal.
"We keep that discreet," the lanky 66-year-old said.
"At due time we will come out with that. Am I confident he will sign? It’s not my main worry now. We want to keep our best players, of course. The more I say that, the more he is in a stronger position."
As the world's superpowers continue to sniff around the left-footed midfielder, Wenger notes that the club's success could play an important role in expediting the negotiation process and getting Ozil to sign on the dotted line.
"It’s not just money. Arsenal can win titles, of course. But that’s what we have to show."
Arsenal's record signing after his £42.5-million move from Real Madrid in 2013, Ozil crafted one of the most dominant creative seasons the Premier League has ever seen last year.
He's made up for a lack of assists by finding the net himself in 2016-17. Though he's yet to record a helper, his thumping volley against the Swans was his third league goal of the new campaign.
That added scoring threat is something that Wenger hopes to see all season long from his integral attacking midfielder.
"When you see Ozil finishing (against Swansea), you think a little bit that he doesn’t take his chances to shoot enough," Wenger said.
"When you see him in training, he scores basically when he wants. You speak with the keepers and he’s one of the most difficult players to predict where he’ll put the ball. I’m happy that he scored and I hope that gives him the taste to try more."