‘Like Ozil, Bergkamp missed a penalty’

Arsene Wenger has called for some perspective on Mesut Ozil’s penalty against Bayern Munich, insisting that even the very best can miss from the spot.

The Germany international won a penalty himself with a fine piece of skill to deceive Jerome Boateng, only to see his spot-kick saved by Manuel Neuer.

While Wenger admits Ozil is not over his disappointment, he will not rush to decide whether the 25-year-old will take one again in the near future.

“At the moment you have to let him recover from that,” he said. “I had examples before with people like Dennis Bergkamp, who missed an important penalty in 1999 [against Manchester United] and refused afterwards to take any.

“Incidentally, he gets a statue on Saturday so it doesn't take a statue away from you. Some other people don't mind [when they miss] and do it again. It depends on how you feel and how much you want it.

“Ozil apologised after the game but I don't think people are shocked by the fact that he missed a penalty because Bayern missed one as well. He takes his penalties in an unusual way so people are maybe a little bit less [understanding] but everybody can miss penalties.

“Ozil is a classy player and on a longer period class always tells.”

Wenger admits that the miss affected Ozil immediately afterwards, but says he chose not to substitute him due to the circumstances of the game.

“I left him on because he's one of the few players who can go from far, from distance, when you're down to 10 men,” he said. “[He can go] a long way with the ball into the opponents’ half.”