Arsene Wenger has backed Per Mertesacker to guide future generations of Arsenal players to successful careers.
- Per Mertesacker to run Arsenal’s Academy
- Shaka Hislop backs Mertesacker’s choice to become academy coach ‘100%’
- Wenger thinks giving BFG academy job is ‘obvious’ now
Wenger believes that Mertesacker will be brilliant in his role as head of Arsenal’s academy, which he’ll take over once his playing career comes to an end next year, and has given the ex-Germany international his blessing.
This is despite the choice to accept the Gunners’ job offer not being ‘obvious’ to the BFG at first.
“I feel first of all he represents the values that are important for me at youth level – integrity, commitment, giving the best and getting the best out of people, being a leader, having potential to guide people,” Wenger told Arsenal Player. “Basically that’s it. As long as you’re a player who is fully committed and focused on your career, you don’t think too much about if you’re capable to do that or not.
“When we raised the question, he thought about it and naturally the process integrated slowly into his brain. The decision in the end that was not obvious at all at the start for him, became very obvious.
“I’m happy because I believe that he can guide the future generations of Arsenal Football Club to successful careers.”
Although the BFG only signed for Arsenal from Werder Bremen six years ago, making over 200 appearances and becoming club captain in that time, the centre-back has been a Gooner since he was a kid.
Cool “@JPPS18: Per Mertesacker with an Arsenal shirt as a kid. pic.twitter.com/6zy9VglbaD”
— Asim Chamo (@asimchamo) March 4, 2014
Therefore, the decision to remain at Arsenal and coach the next generation is an obvious one, as Wenger says, in hindsight.
As Newcastle legend, Shaka Hislop, recently pointed out, having Arsenal ‘DNA’ running from the top to the bottom of the club and from the academy upwards can only be a good thing.
“I have absolutely no problem with this at all,” Shaka said shortly after the annoucement was made.
“For me, a club’s character – a club’s DNA – runs from, or at least should run, from the first team all the way down to the academy. So just in terms of you knowing what the club is about and the direction the club wants to go in in short, medium and long-term, he should be aware of right now.
“And the challenge for Per Mertesacker would be bringing his own experiences, expertise, lending it to that DNA, and bringing it across to the academy.”