Mesut Ozil Says He's Working to Improve Body Language for Arsenal Fans

Mesut Ozil has said he is working on "his on-field demeanour" in order to improve his reputation in the eyes of Arsenal fans by showing he is not lazy or giving up in matches when things do not go his way. 

Per the Evening Standard's James Olley, he said:

"

My goal is to make sure my body language is right.

When I make a mistake, I get annoyed and you can tell from my body language. But these days I try to make sure that I don’t do that anymore because in football you can make mistakes and play a bad pass.

It is more for the fans, the people who watch the game, [rather than team-mates], because they might think that I’m not fighting anymore.

"

He said as much during an interview with BT Sport's Raphael Honigstein:

As Olley noted, the German has often faced criticism from fans and pundits alike during his time in English football for his "languid" style of play. 

Indeed, his demeanour can sometimes make him appear disinterested in proceedings, and in many of the Gunners' big games this season, he's not been able to replicate the form that has seen him net eight goals and register a phenomenal 19 assists in all competitions.

Betting company Paddy Power wryly noted the contrast in how Ozil is perceived based on his recent form after he opened the scoring for Arsenal in their 3-3 draw with West Ham United on Saturday:

When compared to a player such as Leicester City's N'Golo Kante, whose tireless running, endless commitment and outstanding ball-winning skills are relished by many fans of English football, Ozil can appear lazy.

However, his demeanour and style can be deceptive, so his reputation is actually somewhat unfair. According to BBC Sport's Marc Higginson, Ozil covered more ground than any other Arsenal player in November's north London derby.

He was also among the top runners in their 3-1 defeat to Barcelona, per blogger Samuel Jay C:

Further, Squawka reported that the German attempted 76 tackles in the Premier League alone this season. While he has only won 26, for a No. 10 to show such willingness to try and recover the ball for his team is admirable.

Much of his work continues to go under the radar, hence the frequent criticism he receives, so a change in body language may be the only way he can change the way fans perceive him.

Working to improve himself in any capacity is a positive step, though, and soon his hard work may be more widely recognised.