Per Mertesacker thinks the Premier League is a level above the Bundesliga right now, but he insists at least two of the upcoming Champions League ties between clubs in both divisions are ’50-50′.
Per Mertesacker has revealed that ‘enthusiasm’ in the dressing room has replaced ‘tristesse’ – a state of melancholy sadness.
Per Mertesacker has been speaking, briefly, about the impact of Sven Mislintat on Arsenal’s squad and what the chief scout, along with Unai Emery, look for in a player.
Arsenal have appointed former MK Dons manager Dan Micciche to be the boss of the u15s while Adam Pilling has joined to lead the u13s.
Vinai Venkatesham, the new Managing Director at Arsenal, spoke to the media about the importance of maintaining a high-level academy at the club, and how Per Mertesacker is helping with that.
The number of players trained by Arsenal and playing in Europe’s big-five leagues has fallen this year, despite the current strength of the club’s academy.
Arsenal’s new managing director Vinai Venkatesham has confirmed that Per Mertesacker has joined the club’s executive team, and the German is unlikely to be the last player to do so.
Per Mertesacker is expected to take up a role on the expert advisory board for the German national team, according to general manager Oliver Bierhoff.
Per Mertesacker has admitted he considered a return to former club Hannover 96 as he neared the end of his playing days, before Arsene Wenger suggested sticking with Arsenal.
Per Mertesacker insists that it’s not enough just to collect pools of talent in the Arsenal academy, and he wants to build something to help young players cope with every challenge in life.
Per Mertesacker admits the Arsenal players failed Arsene Wenger towards the end of the manager’s spell with the club, and feels he was part of that failure.
Per Mertesacker will make his first TV appearance as a pundit for the Schalke v Porto Champions League match on DAZN on Tuesday night.
Per Mertesacker has admitted the pressure was getting to him in his final year with Arsenal, and he was happier taking part in training sessions than he would’ve been on the pitch.
Per Mertesacker has doubled-down on his claims there is no form of racism within the German set-up and even claimed he has been called names too but it was ‘just a bit of fun’.
Per Mertesacker had his first day as manager of the Arsenal Academy on Saturday, watching the u18s take on Chelsea.
Per Mertesacker has become the latest white, single-nationality German player to deny there is any racism in the German camp in comments that are very disappointing.
The final lineups have been announced for Per Mertesacker’s ‘Homecoming’ game that will take place in Germany in October.
Per Mertesacker has come out firing in defence of Mesut Ozil who has been turned into a scapegoat for his country’s World Cup failings in Russia this summer.
Tickets for Per Mertesacker’s farewell match on October 13 have gone on sale with prices starting at €10 for standing tickets.
Arsenal have announced the nine players they’re releasing ahead of the 2018/19 season, with more potentially to come in the following weeks.