Arsenal Paid Too Much for Mesut Ozil, Claims Jens Lehmann

Jens Lehmann believes Arsenal spent too much money bringing Mesut Ozil to north London, but insists the Gunners move for the Germany international represents far better business than Gareth Bale's record move to Real Madrid.

Since arriving at the Gunners on transfer deadline day for a club record fee of £42m, Ozil has wasted little time in impressing his new employers, laying on four goals for his new teammates in his first two Premier League outings.

The 24-year-old's departure from Real Madrid was largely engineered by Bale's arrival at the Bernabeu for a world record fee of £86m from Tottenham Hotspur, a move that was confirmed the day before Ozil's eventful departure.

Lehmann, Arsenal's custodian for five years between 2003 and 2008, believes his former side are guilty of spending too much on their new playmaker, but admits the market was hugely influenced by the transfer of the Wales international that rocked football.

The former shot stopper also finds it hard to believe there is £50m in difference between the two stars, concluding that the Gunners' move for Ozil represented "the significantly better transfer."

"Certainly Mesut Ozil is much too expensive, but that's because Bale has gone for far too much money to Madrid. No one is worth that much," Lehmann told German news outlet Spox.

"I do not see £50m difference between the two. These are the mechanisms of the market, which are set in motion by a crazy club like Real Madrid."

Three of Ozil's four assists in an Arsenal shirt came during Sunday's 3-1 win over Stoke at the Emirates as the German played an integral role in ensuring his club lifted themselves to the summit of the Premier League, ahead of arch rivals Tottenham Hotspur on goal difference.

Bale meanwhile missed the chance to make his home debut after a thigh injury forced his withdrawal minutes before the start of Real Madrid's 4-1 win over Getafe.

The Wales international must now wait to learn if he will be fit enough to feature in the Madrid derby next weekend against Diego Simeone's high flying Atletico Madrid.