Arsene Wenger defends Mesut Ozil after Paul Scholes criticism - 'he would have loved playing with the Arsenal playmaker'

Scholes said in his Independent column that Ozil was 'going through the motions'

Arsene Wenger has defended record-signing Mesut Ozil in the wake of criticism from Independent columnist Paul Scholes.

The Manchester United legend wrote this morning that Ozil, who cost £42.5million last summer, looks like he is "going through the motions" and was critical of this Arsenal team that lacked a leader in the mould of Patrick Vieira or Tony Adams.

But speaking at his press conference this morning, Wenger leapt to the defence of the German, saying his unhurried style of play makes him an easy target.

"It is not fair," said Wenger when asked at his press conference about the column.

'Scholes would have loved to play with Ozil,' says Wenger (Getty Images)

"A player like Paul Scholes would have loved to play with Mesut Ozil. He has the quality and he works a lot harder than his style of play shows.

"We are in a job where you have to prove a point, he knows that. He works much harder that his style shows."