Per Mertesacker says the new contract he’s currently negotiating with Arsenal is a reward for his eye-catching upturn in form over the last year.
Last week Arsene Wenger confirmed that the club had opened discussions with the German centre-back about a new deal despite the fact the 29-year-old still has 18 months to run on the contract he signed on transfer deadline day in August 2011.
Speaking to the Independent in the aftermath of last night’s 2-0 win over Marseille, the BFG spoke with pride about how he’d overcome a difficult start to life in N5:
“The first year was tough for me, a very tough challenge, but the club and the manager always trusted me in a special way. I think it is a little reward that we are talking [about a new contract], because I still have one-and-a-half years left.
“There is no rush, but it seems that some people are delighted with my performances at the moment. I am pleased with the situation.
“I took my time to settle down completely and there were a lot of reasons. I missed completely the pre-season (before joining Arsenal), so it was really hard because I had to work straight away to play straight away.
“It took me a while to get to that level, but the manager always trusted me and said I was intelligent enough to cope with problems.
“Then I got a big injury [an ankle problem picked up at Sunderland] in my first year and I missed Euro 2012, so I was fit for my second season.
“Maybe it was a good thing that I missed the competition with Germany to train and get my body fit.”
Arsenal fans will no doubt be delighted to hear that Mertesacker is ready to commit his long-term future at the club. As is often the case these days he was written off in some quarters but much like Aaron Ramsey has shrugged off criticism to justify the faith of the manager.
He’ll never be the guy who grabs the headlines, in that respect he’s much like Laurent Koscielny, but his understated organisation of the defence and calm head has been a fundamental part of Arsenal’s recent success. Long may it continue.
What a per-fect reward.
With proper positioning he has shown you dont have to be usain bolt to stop a counter attack led by Marco Reus.
Impossible not to back the Mertebacker!
***Per-sitioning
Out of all the puns about the German, this one is the wurst
you’re right, german puns are about to explode with the centenary of the first world war looming. in my opinion they should just schlieffen well alone
*gets trenchcoat*
Vat?
long may the BFG patrol our back line
although all this does is make me wonder what’s going on with Sagna. I really do hope he’s being offered an extension, or that if he’s made it clear he’s going to clear off abroad for a massive final payday he takes a winners medal or two with him, Bac deserves nothing less. But hopefully he’ll stay.
Couldn’t agree more. Of all the reasons I want Arsenal to win something, doing it for Sagna & TR7 would be right at the top of the list. Two top class players both on & off the pitch, who always give 100% in every game and stuck with the club through some dire years.
That reason is on the top of my list, just above “Twatting Alan Hansen et. al right in their bastards” etc.
don’t forget Wenger. he is on the top of the list for me. then Bac and TR7, in no particular order.
Regarding the non-contract situation, I feel Arsene would only think it right to sign a new deal before tying two aging players to their last lucrative contracts. The lack of an offer indicates both players would readily accept a fair deal if it were on the table. The lack of noise from agents or newspaper sources linking Bac and TR7 with a move away support this. Assuming Arsene were a gentleman of honour, unlike SAF – see how he tricked the little cunt RVP, we are likely to hear about the two after he has signed his. If he really… Read more »
I fucking love our BFG. One of the most likable players we’ve had in years.
As much as I love the current duo I do miss some of TV5’s barnstorming runs (and steely blue eyes), like his lung busting 80 meter sprint to score in the dying moments against Newcastle. Shame to see our club captain so underutilised. Don’t wish him to re-enter the lineup as that would mean an injury or loss of form of one of Mertecielny, but I still miss Tommy the Tank…
It would be nice to see what he can do in DM. I think he might be pretty alright actually.
People keep insisting on this idea, but it’s pretty common knowledge that TV5, while he may have the occasional killer strike, is not really a keen passer like Arteta or Flamini…
Our DM’s need to link the CB’s and the offensive midfield with strong passing… The games without Mertesacker/Arteta/Flamini will highlight this more than enough I feel. The ball gets stuck…
Oh yeah, I flew all the way from the States for that one. If I didn’t love Verm before that (which I did), I definitely did after he converted what was very nearly a draw. It sucks flying six hours for a draw.
That said, can’t complain about how things are going without him, but I get the Vermstalgia.
In the meantime: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYaO_BIXrZY
Resembles Jude Law now that I think about it!
We’ve now got five games in fifteen days. Arsene will want Per and Kos for the last two (away to Napoli and Man City) so maybe we’ll see Verm before then.
On rotation, I’d consider starting Cazorla in the center against Cardiff. His return to form is vital. Although Ozil himself isn’t on top form, I suspect he’ll be just fine.
He’s been phenomenal since the beginning of the year. The defensive partnership of Mert/Kosc has been a master-stroke by Mr Wenger which has only been reinforced with the addition of Flamini and great form of Gibbs, Sagna and Scezney. Long may it continue!
Lovely. Sagna and wenger next please.
and rosicky
Love our fist-pumping, scoring-against-spuds, dancing BFG. Great news!
Also, I can’t wait for the “Bacary Sagna commits the rest of his career and hair to the Arsenal” piece..hope they get that sorted quickly.
Merteception’s exceptionally per-fect
The two work so well and complement each other as a pair, but I’m interested to see who Arsenal fans value more out of our two centre backs… Personally I’m a huge Koscielny fan.
Thumbs up for Mertesacker, down for Koscielny
I’d rather not lose Mertesacker because Verm and Kos are,too similar and don’t play too well together
Great news, would love to hear that the club was making getting Sagna signed up a priority too.
The backbone of a real defensive masterclass, Per Mertesacker is the perfect CB. Tall, good in the air, can read the game well, highest pass rate in the league and my god, is passionate as hell.
This is a man who is on top form and we are very lucky to have him. Wenger did so well to bring him in under everyone’s noses.
Wow he’s 29… this means he can play at the top level for years since his game has never been about speed but his superb reading of the game.
He’s alright I guess but just imagine Cahill and Samba doing their stuff in front of Mark Schwarzer with Owen Coyle looking on from the bench.
Ahhhh.
That’s as good as it gets, in the absence of a British spine.
Dreams…
And Parker in front of them providing the midfield shield.
He is too slow! He is just a peter crouch in disguise. We should have signed Chris Samba and Cahill because he is tall and Cahill is English! I am absolutely loving the fact that everyone of our players who the “insightful” pundits had written off as being useless forms the spine of this Arsenal team. From Koscielny to Mertesacker. To Ramsey to Giroud. Shows how much they know. But what do we care.We remain top with a bunch of written off players and a thrifty manager. COYG! Fear the Merteception!
Indeed, and I’d just like to highlight a few things the BFG said that apply to the current moaners giving another new German a hard time, whether they be Arsenal fans or ‘expert pundits’…
“The first year was tough for me, a very tough challenge, but the club and the manager always trusted me in a special way…I took my time to settle down completely and there were a lot of reasons. I missed completely the pre-season, so it was really hard because I had to work straight away to play straight away.”
How i dearly love our BFG…Vorsprung durch technik!
The captain of the defense we desperately need. Genuine passion for the club and always looks like he’s honored to wear the shirt too. That celebration of the penalty the other day was just an example.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/nov/27/claudio-nancufil-lionel-messi-argentina
The world, from Mertesacker’s perspective.
think we should hang on a bit longer before we offer wenger a new contract as villas boas may come available soon.
Sorry not sturdy what i have been smoking down here at the emirates
Sorry not sure what i have been smoking down here at the emirates
This team is special and there is quality all over the place.. Specially in the defence..not since invincible I have our defence so strong.
Let’s vote for AVB for sports personality of the year lol
He’s earned it, people need to stop making fun of his ability.
Seriously, jokes about the German are the wurst.
This made my day.
“Scissors-wielding flamini is on a roll”
HAHAHA!!
I fucking hate journos. Where are all the haters saying “we should of bought Gary Cahill instead of Per” now.
Thats all we heard in his first season. Now he’s an irreplaceable member of our squad. I LOVE OUR BIG FUCKING GERMAN!!
He bends over opposition attackers and does them in the Poo-Per.
Thoughts with pat rice and his family today. Lets hope for a speedy recovery
Well deserved one of the first names on the teamsheet now, had his critics when he took time to settle in but you dont get over a hundred caps for Germany by being a bad player. Off subject get well soon Pat Rice Arsenal legend
Per Mertesacker, to my mind at least, was easily the second-most valuable player last year, behind only Santi Cazorla (though an argument could be made for Arteta, Per takes the silver based on Arteta missing games due to injury). He was the stabilizing influence that helped Arsenal maintain some semblance of consistency when Vermaelen crashed and burned, when Sczezney did his brief 2013 Joe Hart impression, when Arteta broke and while we couldn’t score a goal to save our lives. Paired with Koscielny, the two compensate for each other’s weaknesses and complement each other’s strengths. A well-deserved signing for a… Read more »