rsene Wenger talks Mesut Ozil, trying to sign Pogba and why Diaby isn't injury-prone

The £42.5million playmaker has struggled for form and fitness so far in 2014-15 and is currently out
until the start of 2015 with a knee problem

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has re-opened his war of words with the German Football Federation after declaring Mesut Ozil returned from the World Cup injured.

The Gunners' record-signing is currently sidelined with a knee injury, which will keep him out until the New Year.

Ozil tore knee ligaments in the 2-0 loss to Chelsea at the start of October, where he completed the 90 minutes.

He then reported for international duty and upon linking up with Die Mannschaft, he underwent a precautionary scan.

Yet speaking today on beIN Sport, Wenger has surprisingly declared that the German schemer returned from the World Cup injured, despite having been given an additional rest period after the competition.

On the subject of Ozil, Wenger said: "He will not be back until January. He came back from the World Cup with an injury."

And, with concerns criticism over his performances this term, the Gunners boss added, "he had a very good first season with us. I think we will see the best of Ozil in the seasons to come."

The Arsenal chief also reacted furiously to suggestions that Abou Diaby is 'injury prone'.

Asked about the often-injured midfielder, who has managed just 22 appearances in the past four years for the side, Wenger said: "He is a player that I have an enormous amount of respect for.

"Everytime he comes back, he has to start from zero with another injury. He was a victim of competition."

"A footballer needs his ankle. He was destroyed by a bad tackle [by Dan Smith on May 1 2006, which left Diaby with a severe ankle fracture] at Sunderland six or seven years ago which altered his ankle."

"He is not a fragile player. He was the victim of an assassin's tackle that went unpunished."

Wenger also told how Arsenal attempted to sign French starlet Paul Pogba, when he was with Manchester United.

The French international walked away from Old Trafford on a free transfer to join Juventus, having grown frustrated with a lack of opportunities.

And Wenger declared that the Gunners were keen on a move.

"We were interested by Pogba when he was at Manchester [United]" said Wenger.

"We tried to get him, but it was complicated. I was surprised to see Manchester let him go. We did not have the right to contact him."