Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker has said that he expects Mesut Ozil to enjoy his best season at the club.

The 26-year-old has been criticised for his displays after joining the Gunners in September 2013 from Real Madrid for a reported fee of £42.4m.

"He is one of our key players," Mertesacker told reporters. "Him in good fitness, him at his best - there's a lot more to come from him and the second part of last season when he came back from injury, you could see how important he is for us as a team with his key passes, being in between the lines and always carrying a threat to the opponent.

"We need to find him and make him better, then he can show his real potential. The key will be not to get any injuries or niggles.

"He's a good player when he's fully fit but obviously he needs to gain that little extra, that confidence, to play his best. We will see - I'm pretty confident that he has his best and his first full season in front of him."

Ozil scored five goals for Arsenal last season.