Mesut Ozil has told Joe Willock and Reiss Nelson to keep believing in their own ability as they look to make a name for themselves at Arsenal. Midfielder Willock, 20, and forward Nelson, 19, have started both of the Gunners’ opening Premier League matches this season and have caught the eye as Unai Emery’s men have picked up two wins against Newcastle and Burnley.
How long they stay in the side for remains to be seen as head coach Emery could opt to make changes for the trip to Liverpool on Saturday, where his side will aim to make it three straight wins.
It is unrealistic to think that the rising stars will play in every game. They will need to be managed and rested at times. Not only that, they will have dips in form and will have to deal with some criticism that eventually falls on every player.
Related: Ozil And Kolasinac Set For Burnley Returns
However, Ozil feels keeping focused on what got them into the first team will help them overcome the many personal challenges ahead. “I just want to say that the most important thing is to believe in yourself,” Ozil told Arsenal Player.
“Of course you have some days when it doesn’t go so well, but you have to believe in yourself, keep working and the most important thing is to have fun. “If you don’t have fun, if you are losing and you make mistakes you will be disappointed. But don’t listen to anyone, you know how good you are, believe in yourself and have fun.”
Former Germany international Ozil has yet to feature for Arsenal this season and is having issues of his own to deal with at the moment.
Along with team-mate Sead Kolasinac, the 30-year-old was a victim of an attempted car-jacking last month and did not travel to Newcastle for the first match of the new campaign as the police investigated “further security incidents”.
Ozil then missed last weekend’s win at Burnley because of illness and it remains to be seen exactly when he will return to the side.
However, even if he is not playing, his experience around the place is crucial, and both Willock and Nelson will no doubt be benefitting from it.
Ozil added: “I was always giving everything to play in training, and after that if I’m not in the squad, or didn’t play those players always came to me and showed their respect. “They spoke to me and told me I have a lot of quality, be calm, believe in yourself and your time will come.”
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