Mesut Ozil Rates First Season at Arsenal, Talks FA Cup, Germany and World Cup

As the season draws to a close, and with the world's elite players heading to a World Cup finals in Brazil, Arsenal's Mesut Ozil has spoken about his first season in English football and his nation's chances of success in South America. 

Ozil was interviewed by German newspaper Bild (h/t 101GreatGoals.com) on Thursday, and when asked about his short time at the Emirates, he said:

"I’ve had ups and downs, but I’m satisfied. Arsenal haven’t won a title for ten years, and next Saturday we can win the FA Cup. For me that would be for me the third cup victory in the third country."

Ozil was clear about his opinion of his expectations for Germany at the World Cup.

He commented:

"Of course, we want to be world champions. A third place or playing good football is no longer enough for us."

Matthias Schrader/Associated Press

The former Real Madrid star has had a genuinely mixed bag of fortune and form since his move to London last summer.

The 25-year-old started off magnificently, leading the Gunners from the front and taking them to the top of the Premier League in style. But his form and fitness significantly dipped after the busy English Christmas period, and Arsene Wenger's side plummeted from contention.

However, it has been recently recognised that circumstances look like they are improving for Ozil, as his performance levels strengthen once more.

John Cross of The Mirror highlighted this as Arsenal beat West Brom recently. He tweeted:

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Ozil's final figures for the season, with a game left to play in the league, are not poor, but they are also not that of a £42.5 million capture.

He has hit six goals and provided 11 assists this season in the Premier League and Europe, per WhoScored.com, across his 33 appearances in an Arsenal shirt.

Next season, Wenger will need to get more out of his record signing and better manage his form across the whole year. Arsenal would benefit from signing a striker with pace whom Ozil can feed when he plays between the lines.

Matt Dunham/Associated Press

If Theo Walcott can stay fit for a whole season, along with Aaron Ramsey, then Ozil will have the supporting cast he needs to get Arsenal competing for the biggest trophies.

But at present, the jury is out on the German international.

No one can doubt his sublime quality and skill levels but to make Arsenal league champions, or gain success in Europe, the player needs more quality and depth around him. 

The World Cup presents a hurdle for Wenger in his preseason preparations for Ozil and his team, but he will somehow have to find the formula to make it all work, while his star player and fellow colleagues get no rest in their efforts on Brazilian soil this summer.