Former Liverpool Midfielder Believes Ozil Signing is a Massive Step for Arsenal

Former Liverpool and Manchester City midfielder Dietmar Hamann believes Arsenal's decision to splash the cash and sign playmaker Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid on transfer deadline day is a step in the right direction.

The Germany international is seen as the best no.10 in world football at the moment, and the Gunners secured the 24-year-old's ignature on a five-year contract for a club record transfer fee of £42.5m fee on Monday.

Arsene Wenger has been under immense criticism of late, due to his failure to land a marquee signing this summer, as the manager attempts to end Arsenal's eight-year trophy drought. And though Hamann does not feel Ozil will be enough to make the north London outfit title challengers in the Premier League, he is sure the midfielder will improve the team.

"I think he is a fantastic player, I think he's a fantastic signing for Arsenal - I think he'll improve the team no end. He has more assists over the last four or five years than any other player in Europe and he can create and score a goal out of nothing - and I don't think there are too many players of that caliber," Hamann pointed out.

"With the pace of [Theo] Walcott, the trickery of [Santi] Cazorla, the physicality of [Olivier] Giroud, [Ozil] will create a lot of chances for Arsenal and I think he's a top, top signing. Whether it's enough for them to challenge for the title, I'm not too sure, but it certainly is a step in the right direction," the German stressed.

Hamann also compared Ozil to Manchester City's Spanish playmaker David Silva, who helped the Citizens win the Premier League title during the 2011-12 season, after arriving in a big-money move from Valenica in 2010.

"David Silva played a similar role at Manchester City when they won the league and I think he's a similar type of player who's always available, rarely gives the ball away, and you know, once he's got the ball, that something's going to happen," he added.