LONDON. — Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil accepts he will always be an easy target for the critics and says he has nothing to prove to anybody.The German World Cup soccer title winner answered the growing doubters with a masterful display in the 3-0 demolition of Aston Villa on Saturday. He swept in the opening goal and created the second for Danny Welbeck at Villa Park when deployed in a more central role by Gunners boss Arsene Wenger.

The 25-year-old has continually found himself under scrutiny since becoming Arsenal’s £42million club record signing from Real Madrid on deadline day in September 2013.

However, Ozil is not about to let anyone else’s opinion get in the way of his continued progress with the Gunners.

“I don’t play to prove anything to anybody, I play for Arsenal,” Ozil told German news agency DPA. I have the feeling that I am criticised more, that happened to me in the Bundesliga and also at Real Madrid.

“We have only just started the season (at Arsenal), we have new players in key positions. The collective game, which is something I have a lot to do with, cannot then just work well from one day to the next.”

Ozil added: “(Just) 10 weeks ago I was elected to the team of the season in England (via an internet poll on the Premier League website).

“I was world champion then. It was the summer break and after a few games (of the new season) everything is called into question again. This is strange, but I know what I can offer.”

The Germany international had come under fire prior to his strike at Aston Villa on Saturday, with numerous fans and pundits critical of his performances and lethargic body language.

But the former Real Madrid star believes it is impossible to gauge a player’s character by their attitude on the pitch and is enjoying the supportive and homely environment at Arsenal.

“You can’t forget that people don’t know you away from football,” the World Cup winner told the club’s official website. You can’t really see what a person is really like when they are on the pitch. Sometimes a player will come across as arrogant and another as being a nice guy when in reality it could be the other way round.

“At the club you always have to be respectful towards one another. It doesn’t matter if one player is a world star and the other is a newcomer. Everyone should be treated in the same way and that’s why I’m so happy at Arsenal, because that’s really the case here.

“Everyone is treated the same way and has respect for one another. That’s a big help on the route to reaching your targets – when you’re like a family who make each other feel welcome and at home. That’s how it is here.”

The 25-year-old registered both his first goal and his first assist of the season at Villa Park, opening the scoring before later setting up Danny Welbeck as the Gunners eased to a 3-0 victory.

Meanwhile, Arsenal are showing further evidence of their growing financial muscle by pressing ahead with plans to revamp their training facilities.

The club’s London Colney HQ and Hale End academy are both set for makeovers as the Gunners look to reinforce their position among Europe’s elite.

Work has already begun on the club’s Hale End site, which houses the club’s up and coming talent, with improvements made to indoor and outdoor facilities.

The plans are being overseen by new academy chief Andries Jonker – and his assistants Jan van Look and Frans de Kat.

Plans are also in the pipeline to extend the club’s already impressive first-team training base, in Hertfordshire.

Gaining planning permission to redevelop the site could be an potential hurdle towards their hopes of expanding London Colney, however.

And Arsene Wenger has confirmed Mathieu Debuchy will miss the next three months after undergoing ankle surgery.

The right-back suffered severe ligament damage during the 2-2 draw against Manchester City on September 13.

“He had surgery on Friday and will be out for three months,” said Wenger.

“It is a blow of course, how big it will be we will only know afterwards because it will be down to how well we replace him.”— Mailonline.

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