Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil must win title to match Dennis Bergkamp, says Jamie Carragher

Jamie Carragher has claimed that in-form Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil must win a Premier League title before he can be compared to club legend Dennis Bergkamp.

The Germany international, who completed a £42.5million move to the Emirates Stadium from Real Madrid in 2013, has been one of the top-flight's most impressive performers this season, notching 16 assists so far.

Following Monday's night's 2-0 victory over Bournemouth, in which Ozil scored one and set up the other as part of a masterful individual display, his manager Arsene Wenger drew comparison with Bergkamp.

Carragher, however, believes that Ozil will only match his Dutch predecessor if he, like Bergkamp, can help win a domestic league title for Arsenal.

"His numbers are remarkable but, at this moment, they mean nothing. He is on target to become a record breaker but, if there is no silverware, what will it mean?", asked Carragher, in his column for the Daily Mail.

"As it stands, though, it is nonsense to use statistics to try to compare Ozil and Bergkamp.

"The reason is this: Bergkamp is immortalised in bronze outside the Emirates Stadium because, aside from all the medals he won, he helped bring fantasy football to north London. His style had substance.

"If Ozil continues to sparkle when it matters in the next 19 fixtures and inspires Wenger's squad to their first Premier League title since 2004, it would make him a legend in the eyes of Arsenal fans.

"Until then the Bergkamp comparisons must wait."

Bergkamp, who played for Arsenal from 1995 to 2006, was part of Wenger's teams which won three league titles and four FA Cups.

Ozil will be given the chance to continue his excellent run of form when he and his team-mates meet relegation-threatened Newcastle United, who visit the Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon.