Mesut Ozil has been compared to Arsenal great Dennis Bergkamp by Tony Adams who has urged Mikel Arteta to find a place for him in the starting XI.
The German has long been an enigma for Arsenal managers with his quality not broadcasted often enough.
His mammoth wages add another dimension with the club under pressure to make their investment worthwhile or move him on.
Arteta has used Ozil sporadically since taking over in December which has done little to quash rumours of a summer exit.
But Adams, who won three league titles with the Gunners, has challenged the Spaniard to maximise the 31-year-old's potential rather than simply writing him off.
He told talkSPORT when asked about Ozil: “As a coach those kind of players can really make or break you.
“If you don’t get the results and you have a player like that on the sidelines that you’re not using, everyone’s going to point to it.
“If you’re getting results and no-one’s looking they’re going to say: ‘Get him out of the club, he's not needed’.
“He’s a talent. The guy can win games. He’s a bit like Dennis Bergkamp, a World Cup winner and can open up doors.
"There would be a place in my team if they toughened up behind him to be honest with you.
“That is the job of the coach to get the best out of his squad of players – not to avoid it and say: ‘No good, don’t want you.’
“The board should say to him: ‘These are your players – go and work with them.’ He’s paid so much money.”
Ozil has made 23 appearances this season, scoring just the once against Newcastle in February.
