Chelsea forward Andre Schurrle believes Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil is a player who thrives on big-game pressure, but hopes his Germany teammate won't live up to that tag when the two sides meet at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Ozil won the World Cup alongside Schurrle in Brazil two months ago, but has again not been able to consistently produce his creative best at club level this season.
The 25-year-old has just one goal and one assist to his name in the Premier League so far this term, but Schurrle believes the former Real Madrid star still has the ability to lift the Gunners.
"Mesut is a player who needs the pressure a little bit," he said in the Daily Mirror. "He needs the pressure to perform.
"He is a great player. He is everything that you need in his position when he plays No. 10. He can play the pass and he can score.
"So I think when you give him a little bit of time he will show you that he is a world class player. Of course, for the national team it is good to have Mesut Ozil in good form.
"On Sunday, however, it would be good if he didn't have that good form against us!"
Ozil started all seven of Germany's matches in Brazil, and is expected to feature in both of Germany's upcoming European Championship qualifiers against Poland and the Republic of Ireland later this month.
Schurrle, who will also join up with Joachim Low's squad, said he has not spoken to his international colleague about his inconsistent club form.
"I don't need to," he said. "We see each other often enough with the national team but even when he was not in good form he had good matches.
"He is always important for our team because he can play in every second a brilliant pass or score a goal. So I think the critics have been a little bit harsh on him. He is a brilliant player."