Per Mertesacker can’t wait to help Granit Xhaka fulfil his potential at Arsenal, claiming it will be a ‘joy’ to help him.

The BFG, who looks set to be promote from vice to captain after Mikel Arteta’s departure, has always cast himself in the role of father figure at the club and it seems he has no intentions of changing for Arsenal’s latest addition.

“I don’t know him personally but that doesn’t matter, we will get along with each other very quickly because he is a good player and has done so much for Borussia Monchengladbach,” Mertesacker told Arsenal Player.

“He can speak German as well, so it will be joy to get his first year going and help him bed in as a player.

“He’s a leader and that is really important, especially in midfield. He has got a very good attitude, is very composed on the ball and contributes a lot.

“He is a good passer as well, so he will set the tempo. I am looking forward to how he does it, how composed he will be in training and in the games. He will be the perfect signing for us.”

Xhaka was Arsenal’s first signing of the summer and with Takuma Asano also in the bag, Arsenal have six weeks in which to land their remaining targets.

There had been rumours that Asano would spend the next two seasons out on loan but it seems as if the club might be considering integrating him as soon as possible, perhaps with a season with the u21s to get acclimatised to life in England while he learns English before a spell out on loan with another club in the country.