Per Mertesacker says this summer’s pre-season itinerary will see him start the new campaign in a better physical and mental state compared to last year.
The German defender missed vital time on the training ground twelve months ago as he took time off following his country’s World Cup success; an experience that also left him emotionally drained.
Having retired from international football the 30-year-old has enjoyed a full five weeks off since the Gunners FA Cup triumph in May meaning he’s in fine fettle as the club step up their preparations for the first game of the season against West Ham on 9 August.
“I think we had 10 days before we played our first game, away at Everton,” Mertesacker told Arsenal Player as he reflected on last year’s hectic schedule.
“The season had already started with the play-off games against Besiktas.
“This year it’s totally different and I think that is very beneficial for myself, for my fitness, to get a few tests and a few games under my belt before the season starts. I feel much better than last season but first of all we need to prepare properly.
“We are just at the start of pre-season so let’s get some good tests and good training sessions as well.”
The Gunners face a Singapore XI in their first pre-season friendly after three days of intense training in hot and humid conditions.
“It’s different to those conditions in London but we are here for one week to prepare, to get some good tests,” he added. “We get on with that and we’re trying to get the best out of it.
“I had a five-week break so it takes a bit [of time], especially under those conditions, to get yourself going and into a certain rhythm.
“I think it’s good for me to get a couple of weeks where we can test ourselves in training and have a very good test here.”
Next captain.
Less than three weeks till Chelsea at Wembley to open the season, it’s coming so fast.
My ear for it isn’t that good as I’m German myself, but is his English still getting better? I’m impressed. If anyone knows German (you never know), there’s a very nice long interview with him at the link on the bottom, in a rather cosy-looking pub where he likes to do interviews. I hope it’s not geo-blocked. There are plenty of footballers who’d be torture to listen to for that long, but he most definitely isn’t one of them. It’s quite interesting, with thoughts on the football business and journalism and how those interact, how the fact that he didn’t… Read more »
Yes his English has improved immeasurably I think even from the start of last season. With Per prior to that you could often see him reaching for words, constrained and frustrated by his limited vocabulary and often there were very long pauses mid sentence with that trademark lowering of the eyebrows (obviously this is completely understandable whilst learning a new language). Last season it seems to me the improvement and probably more aptly the confidence in which he used English was evidently improving on an almost weekly basis, the results are showing quite clearly. Now I think he is quite… Read more »
Glad that I’m not mistaken! Heh, the eyebrows. Of course he should have had something between six and nine years of English at school, as he went through the highest tier of the German school system, but learning in school and actually using a language are two so very different things, as I learned painfully myself when I first started to use English on my own outside of school. Good luck with watching! In case you wonder what the first bit is about, it’s about the interview he gave after the WC Algeria match, which became instantly famous in Germany… Read more »
Your own english ain’t half bad either sister!
He’s currently playing on Sky sports 1 for those not in the know.
Gotta love Mertesecker, can’t ask for better captains than Arteta and the BFG in terms of how they carry themselves and how they prepare. Sure he’s got his limitations, but has been such a rock for us these last few years. We will greatly benefit from a strong start I feel this year with the players fresh (with the exception of Sanchez of course) without the WC with so many involved (even if they didn’t get match time they were still practicing and preparing).
Not to criticize the Hound and Blogs too much, but with all the return of preseason which does need to be discussed in some capacity, it isn’t exactly the only thing going on. Saw a couple of days ago, after giving his prize money toward the cause after winning the world cup, Ozil was returning to Brazil to pay for 11 kid’s surgeries. I know that’s not exactly riveting journalism, but it’s always nice to see there is still a focus on “the Arsenal way” behind all the flash and sparkle of the on-field performances. Proud to be a fan… Read more »
Agree it’s class, but isn’t that Ozil story from last year?
No, he did it again this year.
http://www.dfb.de/news/detail/oezil-pays-for-eleven-operations-for-children-in-need-in-brazil-126761/ – official DFB site.
Last year, he paid for 11 initially as well, which he later increased to 23 all in all.
He’s said it’s going to be a yearly thing to say thank you for the time he had in Brazil for the World Cup. Bizarre he doesn’t get more ‘good guy’ stories, seems like a top bloke, but I suppose footballers are easy prey for negative articles. All the cheating and lying should be a footnote on stories like this.
However crap he was at playing football, Georgios Samaras will always be a hero of mine for what he did for that kid at the Celtic cup final (look it up if you haven’t seen it!).
Did someone ask him to see how often he can use the word “test” just for the bantz?
What happens if Coquelin gets a significant injury after the window closes?
Arteta in the first XI for a few months?
Flamini in the first XI for a few months?
Does that sound acceptable for a team challenging for the title?
Well, there’s not much Per can do about that in his personal preparation (which the article is about after all), is there?
Is other Arsenal discussion not allowed?
Anything to prevent debate eh! Good old apologists
I agree that this is an area that we need reinforcements. Much as I like Arteta, he’s not the same type of DM as The Coq. There is also the possibility of complacency in The Coq after such a breakthrough season (“The Coq goes limp?”). Let’s get William Carvalho and tell him his job is to try and oust The Coq from first choice.
No that is the squads one weakness. Coq is head and shoulders above his replacement. Would like to see this addressed but if it isn’t we still have a powerful first XI and squad. Should challenge strongly