Mesut Ozil names Arsenal star and Man City trio in Champions League 'dream team'
Mesut Ozil has selected Arsenal star Bukayo Saka alongside Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe when choosing his dream Champions League side.
The competition gets underway once again this week, with reigning champions Manchester City aiming to defend the crown that they won as part of their historic treble. It also represents a huge moment for Arsenal.
After finishing second behind Pep Guardiola’s side in the race for the Premier League crown, the Gunners guaranteed their Champions League return. The North London side have not played in the competition since the 2016/17 season.
Ahead of their group opener against Dutch side PSV Eindhoven, former Arsenal playmaker Ozil has revealed his dream XI heading into the new campaign. Taking to Twitter, the German wrote: “My @ChampionsLeague season 2023/24 dream team. The best XI.”
Gunners academy graduate Saka was handed a place on the right-wing in Ozil’s side. The 22-year-old is fresh off the back of another brilliant campaign.
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The England international scored 14 goals and notched 11 assists last term. He has continued that form this term and already has two goals and three assists to his name.
Ozil has named Bukayo Saka in his dream Champions League XI (Getty Images)Who is the best player in the Champions League? Share your thoughts in the comments below
Ozil’s admiration of Saka is certainly not just one way. The latter previously suggested that the former midfielder was the player that impressed him the most when he graduated from the Arsenal academy.
Speaking to Football Focus, he said: "I think I would probably say Mesut Ozil. He plays in his own world. Some of the things he does and you look at him, just wow."
Away from Saka, Ozil’s side is jam-packed with talent. He is not the only one of the German’s former teammates to be handed a place.
His former international colleagues Leroy Sane, Manuel Neuer and Antonio Rudiger are all included and will likely have starring roles in the Champions League this season. Meanwhile Ozil’s ex-Real Madrid teammate Sergio Ramos is handed a place in the centre of defence.
The Spanish centre-back is set to play in the Champions League this season after his return to Sevilla from French giants Paris Saint-Germain. On the topic of the French giants, Kylian Mbappe leads the line in Ozil’s side.
The 2018 World Cup winner represents half of a formidable strike force in the team, with Man City forward Erling Haaland alongside him. The Norwegian scored 12 goals in the Champions League last season as City claimed the trophy.
He is joined in Ozil’s dream XI by teammates Rodri and Ruben Dias. Midfielders Eduardo Camavinga and Ivan Rakitic round-off the team - the pair set to represent Real Madrid and Sevilla respectively this term.
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