Having not started a game all season, Per Mertesacker might have been forgiven for being a bit rusty in yesterday’s FA Cup final.
Except he wasn’t rusty at all. He was a well-oiled defensive machine. A long-legged titan at the back, holding Chelsea at bay with Holding and Monreal alongside him.
It was a brilliant performance from the club captain, and one which drew praise from his manager after the game.
“Per Mertesacker is, for me, a fantastic example for any young professional footballer,” said Arsene Wenger.
“What he did today is just a consequence of an unbelievable attitude, even though he was not selected until the Everton game.
“He played his first game and when he was not selected, he worked even harder. That’s why I would pay a special tribute to him tonight.”
There were also words of admiration from Martin Keown, a man who knows a thing or two about defending.
“This should be called The Mertesacker Final, because I can’t believe the performance he put in,” he said.
“The pressure he must have been under. He’s been out, he’s played one game this season and it’s the biggest game of the season. To perform as he did, the three seemed to suit him actually.
“We’ve not seen him in a three really because he’s been almost last in line. He was magnificent, as all the players were.”
Class is permanent.
Mertesacker shown supremacy in defend of Arsenal victory during the FA Cup Final.
I hope it’s not his final performance for us.
Pretty sure I heard him say see you next year in one of the postgame interviews yesterday!
He says in a tunnel cam that ‘you’ll see him next year’.
Would suggest building a statue, but there’s probably not enough bronze in the world to replicate our Big Fucking German!
The Mertesacker Final!!
SIGN HIM UP!!!!
Per is LANS!
Big in size, big in stature.
Legendary performance from Per. I won’t forget that one, he perfectly shut out Costa most of the game.
He truly loves this club. Fantastic performance against the odds – but so did everyone!
I hope somebody will do a “Mertesacker final” Youtube vidéo with all of Per’s awesome defensive work! What a man!
Mertesacker did well nobody could expected that
Per Mertesacker is an absolute hero. So happy for him and so proud that he lifted that cup for us, he really deserves it. I wish we had more like him, leadership, passion, calmness, speaks so well and seems like a top top bloke. Man I feel about 10ft tall today
He should stay, Wenger just need to sign another box to box midfielder and a good mobile striker. They Love Mertesacker here BREMEN. COYG
Per and Santi signed a contract extension earlier on in the season so they’ll both defiantly be here next season.
Right I just need to spill all my thoughts from yesterdays game somewhere and here seems good. Per – what an absolutely amazing man he is. He is so eloquent considering English is not his first language. I dont know if you saw his interview post game when asked about Wenger’s record in the cup and just kept saying ‘Yeah not bad is it’. Brilliant. What a performance. I had hoped a back 3 would work for him because when he has struggled is when he has been isolated but he surpassed all my hopes and was an absolute rock… Read more »
Good comments, Ash. It only makes sense that when the team has a lot of good center backs, find a way to put more of them out there. Per could have a year or two added to his top-flight career as the middle of a back three. Ox’s performance as a wingback is a revelation as well. I think he’s starting to relish the defensive part of the job. I totally agree about Monreal. He’s been a consistently excellent performer his whole time here. And Ramsey has such an incredible engine that he makes himself valuable even when he isn’t… Read more »
Captain. Legend.
I must admit that I was extremely worried after I realised that BFG was our only left option for the defense. But boy.. did he prove me wrong in style! Sometimes you can’t help but feel happy that you were proven wrong.
I love this club. Long may be happiness continue and last. COYG.
Would have been the perfect performance, if he could only have managed to kick Costa in the face. Twice. 🙂
A pity to quote a former Arsenal player who spends his days spitting on the club that gave him all…
Utter rubbish. He criticises but always speaks respectfully of the manager and players.
What an weird comment. If there is one thing you can’t question about Keown, it’s his love of the club. I’ve never heard or read Martin ‘spitting on the club’, more like offer constructive criticism and how he wants to club to perform (like any fucking fan does on an almost daily basis).
That sounds more like Paul Merson than Martin Keown
What a lot of bollocks.
BFG What a legend!
Keown hints at it but I reckon Mertesacker’s performance yesterday will enter club folklore
One more year for Per!
He’s only 32, 4 more years!
I’ve always loved the BFG, but after that game he’s unquestionably an Arsenal legend. What a performance.
OMG! BFG!
BFG is clearly loved and respected in the dressing room; he is also very tactically astute and reads the game well. Let’s fast-track him on the coaching staff – a future Gunners manager.
Is a back three of Koscielny and Holding either side of the BFG a possible base for next season?
We have Koscielny, Mustafi, Gabriel, Holding, and Mertesacker as fulltime CBs with Monreal able to slot in as well, and any three of them would be a superb backline.
Oh, and Chambers can slot in as well. We are well stocked on defense for years to come.
I loved his interview after the game. What an attitude. And what an accent. Brilliant
What a performance, his height and defensive experience was invaluable, Monreal was exceptional too. As good as Holding was I think a Koz,Mert,Monreal trio could be excellent, Holding to come in when needed, nice not to have to overplay him as a young guy.
Not all heroes wear capes
Per should be given a one year extension on his contract. His excellent leadership qualities are important to the team.
Both, him and Cazorla, had a one year option in their contracts which have been activated a while ago. Both will be there next season. But based on yesterday’s performance I wouldn’t have a problem if he signs a 3 year extension. He can’t loose speed so I think he can play until he’s 35 at least.
Wenger extended his contract smack in the middle of his rehab from injury. Class is permanent fits them both and it seems that we may have another Arsenal player who has found they fit quite well in a position not normally played in. PS…Coq might also find some time as a wing back, I think he is better than given credit for being in many ways.
What a model professional Per is. Always derided when he arrived and people (Pundits) were always quick to jump on the “he’s too slow” bandwagon. When you have the ability to read the game and time interceptions and tackles like that and you have fast players around you you can thrive. Thrive he did. You don’t earn that many caps for Germany and not know how to defend. Also every time he speaks he is the epitome of class and respect. Gunners legend!
The amount of times he went full Gandalf was beautiful!
Cometh the day cometh the man. Did you know, we’ve got a Big Fucking German in our ranks? 🙂
I for one am not surprised. Did not buy into this whole ‘crisis’ mongering by the media before the match with regards our defense. We carried 5 Cback options this season. Unlike some, I have always said that pace was an overblown issue by many who do not understand the merits of experience and positioning in the game which bring efficiency. This went for both Per and Giroud, two players often and simplistically criticise for lack of pace. The tackles Metersecker made were worthy of the praise often lauded upon Koscielny. The run Giroud made on the wing to put… Read more »
Not rocket science, even Wenger should have realised that signing 3 CB who are barely 6 foot will not be helpful, height DOES help at set pieces. BFG and Giroud are the only tall players in our team, we need at least 2 more tall players.
Of the invincibles only Cole/Lauren/Ljumberg/Wiltord/Reyes were regulars short of 6 foot. Even Palour/Pirez/Edu/Aliadiere etc were 6 footers!