I have played alongside Ramsey and Sanchez before but I must confess that none have the qualities that this guy possess,if I’m to come back in my next life as a footballer,I would have love him to be my teammate”, Mesut ozil named the ONE Arsenal player that He wished to play with – Not Rice and not Saka

In a recent press conference that’s already creating waves among Arsenal fans, former Gunners playmaker Mesut Özil opened up about his admiration for a current Arsenal star — and surprisingly, it’s neither Declan Rice nor Bukayo Saka.

Özil, who spent seven memorable years at Arsenal and shared the pitch with top talents like Aaron Ramsey, Alexis Sánchez, and Olivier Giroud, confessed that there’s one modern-day Arsenal player he wishes he could have lined up alongside.

> “I have played alongside Ramsey and Sanchez before, but I must confess that none have the qualities that this guy possesses. If I’m to come back in my next life as a footballer, I would love him to be my teammate,” Özil declared.

The player in question? Martin Ødegaard.

Yes — the Arsenal captain and Norwegian international has won Özil’s heart with his technical brilliance, leadership, and creative presence in midfield. The former Germany international highlighted Ødegaard’s calmness on the ball, vision, and intelligence in tight spaces as qualities that remind him of the kind of football Arsenal fans fell in love with during Özil’s own reign in North London.

Özil went on to praise Ødegaard’s maturity at such a young age, noting that the Norwegian’s ability to dictate the tempo of games and unlock defences with ease is a rare skill in today’s game.

> “He has that special vision — he makes difficult passes look easy. It’s not just about assists, it’s about the way he sees football. I admire that,” Özil added.

Since being named captain by Mikel Arteta, Ødegaard has become the heartbeat of Arsenal’s midfield, helping to guide the club back into Premier League title contention and delivering consistent performances in both domestic and European competitions.

While fans often debate about the best creative midfielder in Arsenal’s modern history, Özil’s high praise for Ødegaard will surely spark more conversations about the Norwegian’s growing influence in North London.