Per Mertesacker and Mesut Ozil
Per Mertesacker is delighted to have fellow Germany international Mesut Ozil on board at Arsenal.

Per Mertesacker has claimed that he recommended Mesut Ozil to Arsenal with the defender telling Arsene Wenger that he should definitely sign the star before deadline day came to a close.

Ozil was the addition that finally got Gunners fans on board with Wenger this season after the manager dragged his feet throughout the transfer window and failed to spend any money on bringing new signings into the club.

Smashing Arsenal's record transfer fee, the Germany international will likely make his debut for the club in this weekend's trip to Sunderland.

And Mertesacker is particularly delighted that his fellow countryman will be joining him after recommending him to Wenger.

"Wenger asked me what I thought of Özil, and the answer was obvious," he explained, according to Arsenal Insider. "I knew that he had been watching him for a long time, and he wanted to sign him even when he was at Werder Bremen."

"I am glad that we have still managed a relatively big deal before the deadline, which will certainly bring us forward in the Premier League and in the Champions League. I know him from Bremen, so I know he will improve us."

Arsenal's acquisition has come with many questioning why the midfielder would leave Real Madrid. Florentino Perez has reportedly accused the star of being unprofessional and obsessed with partying.

Santi Cazorla, who played against the 24 year old in his time in La Liga, said that he couldn't understand why Madrid would want to part with such an important player.

"He is a spectacular player and we are very lucky (that) we are going to learn alongside him," he said. "I don't understand that (why Real Madrid sold him), he is a unique player.

"You will have to ask the club for reasons why they sold them, but at the same time he didn't think he was getting the opportunities he deserved and luckily he has come to us."