Per Mertesacker has been introducing himself to the kids at Hale End and setting up meetings as he uses his spare time to get ready for life in his new role, so what sort of manager is he going to be?

2Per Mertesacker’s potential management style

Arsene Wenger speaking with Per Mertesacker. Picture: Arsenal FC via Getty Images

In July, it was announced that Per Mertesacker would be taking over Arsenal’s academy once his playing contract with the club ran out in June 2018.

Since the news emerged, the centre-back has given us a sneak-peak of how he wants to lead the young Gunners and revealed a deep, caring philosophy that I’m not sure many fans realised he had.

No one saw the appointment coming but after hearing what he has to say and how he wants to make a difference, many strongly believe that the BFG could go on to be a great manager one day.

The German knows a thing or two about success. He’s not just Arsenal captain now, he’s also won the World Cup with his country in 2014, as well as the FA Cup three times in north London.

However, it doesn’t seem that he believes success comes from pure luck or miraculous – it’s hard work.

The 33-year-old strongly believes that it doesn’t matter how talented you are as a footballer, if you don’t work hard, you’re wasting it. Similarly, he reckons that hard work is the most useful tool an athlete can have and, in his words, “Talent is what you make of it.”

It’s a clever ethos to live by because it means that young players, who the defender will be helping develop, no longer have to worry that they’re not being touted as the next Cristiano Ronaldo. They will apply themselves, push, grow and continue to learn because they believe they can get there one day.

And, even if they don’t, they’ll have learned numerous lessons about discipline, nutrition, fitness and teamwork to carry with them for the rest of their life.

Next: The type of players Mertesacker wants to develop