Per Mertesacker made his final appearance for Arsenal today, coming on as a second half substitute in the 5-0 win over Burnley at the Emirates.
The German joined the Gunners in 2011, winning three FA Cups, and will take over as Academy Manager from next season.
His introduction was met with raucous applause, as was every touch and tackle he made, and the club captain spoke about his emotions after the game.
Speaking to the official site, he said, “It was a beautiful moment. It is difficult to sum it up now. It was brilliant, how the team performed and the manager letting me on for the last time.
“I was pretty much focused and concentrated on the game. Afterwards it was very emotional. To get such an exit from the club, I’m very grateful for this opportunity.
“The boss brought me here, this club trusted me. It’s very humbling and I feel very grateful.
“The good thing was we were 5-0 up, so I could really take that warm welcome and the emotions to enter the pitch for the last time.
“It’s magnificent the way I was welcomed from the first day, and for the great finish as a football player.
“That’s brilliant and it speaks of this classy club by giving me the opportunity to get such a great ending.”
We love the BFG, best of luck to him with his new job, and thanks for his service – he really helped steady a ship that was heading for the rocks when he joined.
We’ve got a BFG.
’nuff said.
We have two BFG’s. That’s how good we are!
I love how he’s got a bit of a London twang to his accent these days. Good luck for the future BFG.
Mertesacker and Arteta’s arrival on transfer deadline day back in 2011 was our best transfer business of the last 10 years. They really steadied a sinking ship and the stability they brought eventually led to the 3 FA cup titles. The word legend gets thrown around quite casually these days but what they did back then after almost everyone left (it seemed like it), will always be legendary in my books.
Even this it was just one season he spent here, I think Benayoun was also important to us that season.
Yeah massively underrated.
I think he’s a fantastic appointment for the academy.
Not a goodbye to the BFG. Just a hello to our new youth coach. Very best of luck to him.
As an aside, a thumbs up to everyone who booed sir Chips.
Had to laugh when Kroenke’s picture went up on the big screen for about 0.5 seconds and then disappeared. You could almost hear the “NO NO NO” from the person in charge from the stands.
The academy is in good hands, I’m sure.
BFG…he will be fondly remembered. A great signing by Wenger in a time when we needed practicality and reinvention. Wenger brought in Arteta and Per in the wake of the failure to capitalize on the promise of youth for far too long. Both men brought in cooler heads and experience to stabilise the ship rocking from the loss of RVP. Sure we should have punched higher from then on but the 3 FA cups showed a better promise until Wenger failed to match the competition coming in from other clubs again. The last FA cup ensures legendary status for the… Read more »
So long champ and thanks for everything!
All the best in the Academy, Per! It was great having you with us.
Is it fair to refer to the Mav as our new BFG? Everyone loves a bit of Greek, no?
Mav goes by Dinos I think.
I remember one of his 1st games away at Norwich and put in his own net. He run around for the rest of the game like a man possessed to make up for it.i think he ended up scoring for us to. The fans started to sing we’ve got a big fucking German and the poor sod didn’t have a clue what was being sung he thought we didn’t like him. He asked Theo and Theo must have said no mert they are loving you my friend. The smile that came across his face was priceless
A world class defender and top character. Hope he does as well for the academy as he did captaining the team.
Love BFG. He really got the club and what we are about. People knocked him for his pace but his reading of the game was exceptional – he was so often in the right place at the right time. Including his goals against sp**s. Is anyone else secretly cheering on the chavs for the rest of the season so the ? finish 5th? It makes one feel slightly unclean but needs must.
Should they have found a clever way to include Santi in the farewells? I dont see him getting an extension.
Lovely to see him alongside Mavropanos who genuinely has the potential to make as big a mark as he did.
Congrats to the original BFG.
Now, We’ve got a Big Fucking Greek Lad, We’ve got a Big Fucking Greek Lad..
Isn’t kolasinac a BFG as well, funny season he’s had but if he plays more consistently next season he can be one of the greats
I wasn’t crying. No…. I think he was a little bit though.