Per Mertesacker has revealed that he sings Drake songs in the dressing room at Arsenal in order to lift the mood.

Mertesacker has revealed a rather interesting way of bonding with the younger players at Arsenal and it involves singing Drake songs in the dressing room.

“Sometimes when needed, to lift the group or to lift energy, I can do multiple things,” the defender told the Guardian.

“Creativity is a big thing. I expect young players to be creative as well – creativity outside of the pitch. Sometimes they have their headphones on and sing for themselves but in front of people they shrink, they have no creativity.”

He explained, “You can lead in different ways, sometimes you have to lead in an ironic way, like no one would expect you to do. Danny Welbeck, for example, wouldn’t believe that I could sing Drake songs off by heart.

“I’ll have a laugh with things that not many people would do at the age of 32. They’re like: ‘We’re the younger generation, you’re the older generation, you listen to Phil Collins and don’t understand what we’re talking about.’

“Sometimes you have to understand the young generation in terms of what they do, what they feel, and you have to do it as well to keep up. So this is a guy that keeps up on and off the pitch and is not always having a go at you, he’s mixing it up. I think nowadays you have to be like that.”

The big guy admits that it wasn’t always so easy for older and younger players to mix.

“When I came through the environment was very different,” Per said. “I couldn’t look at the players who were over 30. They would say: ‘Why are you looking at me? What do you want from me?’ Even on the training pitch you would get tackled sometimes in a very bad way.

“It was proper rivalry: ‘Young centre-back, you watch out. I’m gonna show you on the pitch and I’m gonna show you off the pitch.’

“Those days have almost gone, it’s more welcome. But I want to keep up that dressing room where everyone is respected.

“Primarily you want to perform. Youngsters have to know when they have to perform and when they have to be serious – that’s something I stand up for. But sometimes you need to be not only the guy who talks and demands; you have to have that fun part in your life as well.”

Mertesacker is set to take over as head of Arsenals academy, which hasn’t had anyone formally in charge since Andries Jonker left to coach Wolfsburg in February.

The centre-back has been praised by players, old and new, as well as Arsene Wenger, for his ability to connect with the squad members and be one of the team while also dishing out sound advice and leading.

It sounds as if the former Germany international will be an excellent man manager off the pitch. He certainly has been while on it.

The BFG has under a year left of his playing career at Arsenal before he takes a step back with the academy. However, he’s yet to make a competitive appearance this season after getting elbowed in the face by Gary Cahill in the Community Shield and having to get some gnarly-looking stitches.

The 32-year-old was on the bench against Stoke on Saturday, so perhaps we’ll see him soon.

On a side note, if any videos exist of Per singing Drake, do the right thing and send them our way.