Arsene Wenger has stressed that his former player Mesut Ozil needs support in light of the calls for the playmaker to retire in the wake of Die Mannschaft’s disastrous group stage exit from the World Cup.

Ozil who is of Turkish heritage was photographed alongside Germany team-mate Ilkay Gundogan with controversial Turkey president Erdogan the day before Joachim Low's squad announcement and were subsequently jeered by Germany fans.

Whilst German FA president Reinhard Grindel has called for Ozil to explain himself over the photo.

Wenger in an exclusive interview with beIN SPORTS suggested that the political issues affected the performances of the Arsenal star.“I know Ozil well, he’s a fantastic, exceptional football player but he and Gundogan suffered from what happened before the World Cup because they have been vindicated in Germany.”

Whilst the former Arsenal boss stressed that Ozil needs to be fully supported, and that lack of supported affected the 2010 World Cup winner. “Ozil is a guy who needs support, he doesn’t need controversy. When I watched him play I could feel that there were situations in the game where he could have moved forward, progressed more vertical he played with security.”

“I was thinking come on, that is not the real Ozil I know. He did play alright, but I think he didn’t play with a complete freedom he played a little bit with the handbrake I think in this World Cup.”