Arsenal v Chelsea: 'I'm powerless to stop Mesut Ozil,' concedes Jose Mourinho

Midfielder played under Mourinho at Real Madrid for three seasons

Jose Mourinho is wary of Mesut Ozil (GETTY IMAGES)

Ahead of Chelsea’s crunch Premier League visit to Arsenal on Monday night, Blues’ manager Jose Mourinho has conceded that there is one Gunners’ player he will be powerless to stop at the Emirates – his former charge at Real Madrid, Mesut Ozil.

Mourinho managed the £42.5m German playmaker for three seasons at Madrid between 2010 and 2013, and admits he will never be able to "completely stop" Ozil over 90 minutes. The 25-year-old has slotted nicely into the Gunners line-up since joining in September, making nine assists and scoring five goals in 14 matches in all competitions.

“He arrived, Arsene [Wenger] gave him the shirt, immediately he starts playing and immediately the team becomes better.

"He's a phenomenal player. He's one of those players that you buy and you complete the puzzle of your team."

"I know his strong points. Not the weaknesses," Mourinho added.

"I think I know how to try to stop him to be in the game [for] 90 minutes, with 90 minutes of direct influence.

"But it's impossible to stop him for 90 minutes, because these kind of players they will have always a moment or a couple of moments where you cannot stop them and they end up showing why they are so good.

"To stop him completely, I don't believe we can."

Jose Mourinho and Mesut Ozil embrace (centre) after Chelsea's 2-0 League Cup win over Arsenal in October