Ozil - Defeats have roused the team

Mesut Ozil says Arsenal’s recent Champions League defeats have “roused the team” to be more successful this season.

The Gunners were knocked out of the 2014/15 competition at the last-16 stage after losing to Monaco on away goals, and were beaten by Dinamo Zagreb in their Group F opener a fortnight ago.

While those setbacks frustrated Ozil, the German believes the squad is growing stronger.

“We’re developing ourselves further as a team,” he told Arsenal Player. “Defeats always rouse the team more and our aim this season is to go as far as possible, and if possible to win it, because we have the potential.

“But we are aware that there are a lot of teams in the tournament who are among the favourites and have a very good squad.

“In the Champions League, as in football, anything is possible and that’s what we want to show this year. With a bit of luck, we can reach our target and that’s what we want to do.

“We want to develop ourselves further. We have a very good team with lots of quality.

“Of course the first game didn’t go well for us but we have a lot of matches in front of us that we want to do well.”

No English side has reached the semi-finals of the competition since 2012, a statistic that Ozil believes will soon change.

“I think there was a lot of misfortune last year,” he explained. “When you look at the English teams, you see that they are strong because they have a lot of players in their ranks who have a lot of quality.

“In the Champions League, especially in the knockout rounds, sometimes one goal or the away goals ruling can decide ties, like with us against Monaco, where that was the case.

“We had some bad luck and as a team you need more fortune. I think it will be different this year - the English sides are well equipped and will go far.”