Arsene Wenger insists Mesut Ozil's career at Arsenal can still be revived.
Ozil, 31, is yet to feature this season.
“He wasn't exactly the one with the greatest discipline on the pitch," Wenger told Der Speigel.
"And playing the game without the ball wasn't exactly his forte.
"But you can deal with that if you put some more defensively minded players by his side. The main thing is to get the balance between attack and defence right."
The legendary Frenchman admits the modern game's focus on strength and pace may not suit his former player.
Wenger added: “Players have lost their technical quality over the past 10 years. Athleticism has become more important than technique and decision making.
"It's more about physical characteristics and intensity, about explosiveness. And it's also about being a showman."