Arsenal legend Robert Pires says Mesut Ozil is becoming the same sort of "maestro" for the Gunners as Dennis Bergkamp was for the "Invincibles" side.
Pires, who won two Premier League titles and three FA Cups at Arsenal and still trains frequently with the first team, has been impressed with Ozil's emergence as a regular goal scorer for the club this season. The Germany international, who led the Premier League with 19 assists last term, already has seven goals in all competitions -- just one shy of his previous Gunners best.
And Pires, who saw the effect Bergkamp had on Arsenal's title-winning campaigns in 2001-02 and 2003-04, said comparisons between the two playmakers are justified.
"During my time, the maestro was Dennis Bergkamp and now the maestro is Mesut Ozil," Pires told Arsenal's official website. "I love them both because they play very good football but they play for the team. Not for himself, they play for the team. This point is very important for the future and of course for Arsenal."
Pires attributed Ozil's newfound scoring form to a shift in his mental attitude this season, and said he should be aiming for at least 12 Premier League goals before the campaign is out.
"Something has clicked," Pires said. "What's happened in the head is like a click because he's scored a lot of goals.
"This is a difference between the last season with Mesut Ozil and now because he's thinking just for himself and sometimes when you are in front of the target it is very important to score a goal. Ozil has very good qualities, he can normally score a minimum of 12 goals during the Premier League."
Pires is one of the few former Arsenal greats who has maintained strong links with the club as he still works as an ambassador for the Gunners.
Captain Theo! Well done U9 ! You did well today
A photo posted by Robert pires (@robert_pires07) on
He also has his son Theo enrolled in the Arsenal academy, and saw him captain the club's under-nine team at the weekend.