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The Nairobian

I confused miles with kilometres – Mesut Ozil caught speeding at 155km per hour

Football

By Mirror | Nov 06, 2020

**Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil in his car [REUTERS]**

Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil has claimed he mixed up kilometres and miles after he was caught speeding at 97mph. (156km/hour)

Ozil told a court he believes a momentary lapse of concentration was responsible for his excessive speed, after he was stopped by police on the M1.

He also claimed that being a German national means he is used to driving vehicles that display speed in kilometres instead of miles.

The 32-year-old was stopped while heading home from training on July 2 at 11.50am.

Ozil wrote to Bromley magistrates court after he was served with a notice of prosecution.

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The midfielder said: "When attempting to rationalise my actions, I believe it was the combination of the empty road, with no other vehicles to gauge my vehicle's speed against, and the misapprehension that I was travelling kmph rather than mph."

Ozil also apologised for his speed, which he labelled "wholly unacceptable".

Arsenal's Mesut Ozil celebrates scoring his side's second goal against Everton during the English Premier League soccer match against Arsenal at the Goodison Park, Liverpool, England, Sunday Oct. 22, 2017. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)

"Due to the Covid-19 restrictions the motorway was effectively empty," wrote Ozil. "The only explanation that I can give is that due to the absence of other vehicles on the road, my concentration must have momentarily lapsed.

"The vehicle I was driving has very low engine noise and it is automatic transmission.

"I am a German national and I am obviously used to driving vehicles that would display speed in kilometres as compared to miles per hour.

"I do not suggest that this in any way excuses my driving on the day at all — I fully accept that the speed my vehicle was travelling is wholly unacceptable."

Ozil, who has been frozen out at Arsenal by boss Mikel Arteta in recent months, accepted that he does have to be punished. But the German has appealed for a fine rather than a ban, pointing out he has a clean driving record.

The Gunners star claims that he needs his car to get to training and to transport his young daughter, as his wife doesn't drive.

"I travel to work on a daily basis by car and have personal commitments and a very young baby daughter. In the current climate I would be very much against travelling on public transport with my baby daughter," he added.

"My wife does not drive and therefore by necessity I will have to undertake the driving to any healthcare appointments for my daughter."

Ozil pleaded guilty to speeding and will be sentenced later this month.