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NUMBER'S UP

Arsenal star Mesut Ozil eyes No10 shirt vacated by Jack Wilshere after loan move to Bournemouth

German ace wants his team-mate's iconic number and reveals he is ready to open contract talks with the Gunners

MESUT OZIL has his eyes on snatching the vacant No10 shirt at Arsenal vacated by Jack Wilshere.

The German star has left fans of the north London side in no doubt that he wants to be main talisman at the Gunners by wearing the iconic shirt.

 Mesut Ozil wants to wear the Arsenal No10 shirt
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Mesut Ozil wants to wear the Arsenal No10 shirtCredit: PA:Press Association
 Jack Wilshere has vacated the shirt at the Gunners after joining Bournemouth on loan
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Jack Wilshere has vacated the shirt at the Gunners after joining Bournemouth on loanCredit: PA:Press Association
 Ozil has claimed Germany No10 shirt after the retirement of Lukas Podolski
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Ozil has claimed Germany No10 shirt after the retirement of Lukas PodolskiCredit: Getty Images

Wilshere left the Emirates to join Bournemouth on loan this week, leaving his shirt number free.

And after recently claiming the No10 for his country following Lukas Podolski's international retirement, Ozil has revealed his intentions to nab it back at Arsenal too.

Ozil said: "It just went free, and I definitely want it.

"It's my favourite number. Football legends like Zinedine Zidane, Diego Maradona and Pele wore that number on their backs."

He continued: "I'd wanted the number for years but so did Lukas Podolski. And he got to keep it because he had more caps than I did. Now I've pounced.

"The number fits me and my position: play-maker. I'm really very happy to have it."

 Mesut Ozil is set to resume talks over a new deal at Arsenal
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Mesut Ozil is set to resume talks over a new deal at ArsenalCredit: Reuters
 Arsene Wenger will discuss a new deal with Mesut Ozil over the next few weeks
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Arsene Wenger will discuss a new deal with Mesut Ozil over the next few weeks

And Ozil also revealed that he is about to resume talks with Arsene Wenger over extending his deal with Arsenal.

Speaking to German newspaper Express, he said: "I've got a deal that takes me through 2018. We've had talks, but we broke them off during the Euros so I could concentrate on the national team.

"Let's see where the negotiations go from here."

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