Arsene Wenger Hails Mesut Ozil 'Bargain,' Talks January Transfer Plans and More

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has described star playmaker Mesut Ozil as a "bargain" thanks to the stunning form the midfielder has shown this season.

According to Stefan Coerts of Goal.com, he said: "I spent £40 million on Ozil and it was a bargain because he is a top player. He is not just a provider now, he likes to get on the end of things."

The German international showed that desire in the Gunners' 3-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League on Tuesday, per BT Sport Football:

Ozil has received significant criticism during his time at the Emirates Stadium, chiefly for perceived laziness and a lack of incisive contribution for how much he cost Arsenal. That has firmly changed, though, with Ozil defying his critics on both counts.

According to BBC Sport's Marc Higginson, the 27-year-old covered more ground than all of his team-mates in the north London derby earlier in November, while Squawka Football illustrates his astounding form:

Indeed, his total of 11 assists in all competitions this season is already superior to the nine he accrued last year, and with three goals scored, he's well on his way to surpassing last season's five.

Football writer Iain Macintosh and BT Sport pundit Rio Ferdinand are among many captivated by his majestic performances:

Ozil is more than justifying his price tag right now, so Wenger's assertion that a £40 million player can be a bargain might well be correct.

The Frenchman also admitted he hopes to recruit in January—as always, if he can land the right player. Per Coerts, he said: "I love a bargain, who doesn't love a bargain? I bought [Patrick] Vieira for £2.5m and it was a bargain. If I find the right quality I will do something in January."

As Coerts notes, the Gunners are in need of more bodies after accruing a number of injuries.

Further, after failing to land a single senior outfield player in the summer, the squad is crying out for new faces as they challenge for the title—and moreover, their vocal supporters won't take kindly to successive failure, either.

In regards to the title race, Wenger refused to rule out league leaders Leicester City or 15th-placed Chelsea.

Per Coerts, he said: "You cannot rule Leicester out. They are very explosive, they are on fire, especially on the flanks. They can create havoc on the counter attack. Are Chelsea still title contenders? Mathematically you cannot rule anyone out. It's a big opportunity for us."

The Foxes have been a revelation this season and are the division's top scorers with 28 goals.

Scott Heppell/Associated Press

However, as good as they've been, it has largely been down to the stunning form of Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez. Unless the pair can defy the odds and keep their run going, Leicester's frail defence will see them slip down the standings eventually.

As for Chelsea, they are 12 points behind the Gunners—a hefty but not insurmountable total if the Blues can turn around their fortunes.

It would be something of an indictment on the Premier League's elite if Chelsea can win the title from their current position. That doesn't seem likely, but it's imperative the Gunners finish ahead of them even if they do enjoy a revival.