Arsene Wenger is of the firm belief that new signing Per Mertesacker is improving all the time, as he adapts to the English game. This is partly to do with the defender pushing himself to get his true form back and impress his new manager, team-mates and fans.
Wenger spoke about Mertesacker in a recent interview. The Frenchman said:
‘Per is getting stronger and stronger, He is calm, intelligent and he is now showing clearly that he can lead the defence.’
The 27-year-old German has been at Arsenal for just over a month now and his performances have helped fill the gap that has been left by the injured Thomas Vermaelen. In buying Mertesacker, Arsenal have potentially resolved there defensive frailties, which have plagued them over recent season. Hopefully, when Vermaelen comes back to the team, the Belgian will fit right back in and our defence will be complete.
Mertesacker appears eager to please Arsenal fans and intends on working hard. Despite his recent praise from Wenger and the media, Per is keeping his feet firmly on the ground:
‘If the coach is praising me, that is of course a great thing to hear, But I have to keep working on things, I know I can play even better. I want to put in some good work, especially on defence, that’s my job.’
In my view, Mertesacker can become the rock in our defence that we have been craving for, and he obviously is happy to be a part of the club that he has supported for almost 17 years.
There are still issues within the club that need addressing and our back line may need slight tweaking, but I am happier about our defence now than I was a few weeks ago and Mertesacker’s performances have gone a long way to proving he is capable of doing the job Arsenal and the fans need/want him to do.
What do you guys reckon – is Mertesacker settling in nicely at Arsenal? Is he the centre-back to finally solidify our back line?
give us your thoughts
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He has experienced and it is nice to have him in our squad.. but he has his shortcomings, he is not at all mobile and against low center gravity center fwds, he will be murdered.
Yes he is slow but his experience can allow him to monitor the game. ADAMS was slow also but is wing backs and man marker had good speed.
Mert has good positional skill and will get better playing with KOS or VER. His experience his whats helping right now so the more he plays, the more he will be mentally ready, darn i sound like Wenger there (hahahhah), but i am seeing it in his game looking forward to the Totts match.
It will be who have the better attacking force and i think we will win that war hands down.
the one player that has become immense for arsenal is ARTETA….he intercepts, make key passes, put his head in the line of fire, shows composure whenever team is under pressure, you name it he does it.
Absolutely immense…
He will not all things so he will need to be paired with a speedy CB and Vermaellen can do that. I think the judgement should be reserved until end of season.