Mesut Ozil: Arsenal playmaker says he was 'exhausted' at the start of the season - but he's playing his best football for the Gunners

£43m German international is now settled in the Premier League

Mesut Ozil celebrates his goal against Spurs (Getty Images)

Mesut Ozil has revealed that he was "exhausted" at the start of the season after Germany's World Cup triumph, but he says he is now playing his best football at Arsenal since joining the club for a record £43m in August 2013.

The 26-year-old returned from a ruptured knee ligament injury in January, and has played an integral part in the Gunners' fine recent run, in which they have won eight Premier League matches in a row to mount an unlikely late challenge on the title, although Chelsea are currently seven points clear at the top of the league.

"At the moment I am pleased with the consistency of my game," he told Sport Magazine. "I feel I am now playing my best football since joining Arsenal.

"I was exhausted at the start of the season. I started playing professional football at the age of 16 and had never really suffered many serious injuries.

"The football here is far more physical, it is played at a faster tempo and you have to adapt to the sheer number of games.

"I have had to work a lot harder and adjust my game accordingly. I used my time out with injury to work on my strength. I'm continuing to do extra sessions after training now."