Per Mertesacker says he’s yet to see any evidence that Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil are anything less than 100% committed on the pitch this season, but that if he were to see their standards drop he’d make it an issue.
The skipper is into the final year of his own contract, before he takes over as Academy Manager next season, and believes that the star duo will be professional every time they play.
However, he seems clear that any dip in standards would not be tolerated.
“Everyone has to do his job 100 per cent otherwise they are not eligible to be on the pitch,” he told Sky Sports.
“As long as everyone understands that then we are fine and you won’t get problems from me. If I have a different feeling then it would be addressed.
“I have no problems with players in their final year, that includes me as well. The only issue I’ve got is if they’re not fully committed to what we’re doing here.”
Despite that, the BFG is sure that all the players in the final year – which include Ozil, Sanchez, himself, Jack Wilshere and others – will give their all.
“A lot of people focus on being on long-term contracts, but that’s not needed,” he said.
“I don’t feel a dip in commitment; we’re in a good front with those who have their contracts expiring.
“We want to be successful here and everyone is committed to that.”
Let’s hope so.
Is Mert this season’s Cech? Club spokesperson to try stem the tide of apathy.
Or solid, dedicated professional saying what shouldn’t have to be said but needs to be said.
The last senior player that “told it how it is” was dropped from the first team and never came back, last I recall…
Who was that?
Debuchy?
http://www.itv.com/news/2017-04-14/arsene-wenger-unhappy-with-theo-walcotts-comments-after-crystal-palace-defeat/
@Loose_Cannon I get what you’re trying to say, but there is a defining difference between what Per is saying in this interview and what Theo Walcott said literally minutes after captaining the side that just took an absolute panning away at Crystal Palace – who at the time were relegation candidates. ‘They wanted it more. You could sense that from the kick-off.’ A truly diabolical statement from a guy who wore the armband on the night, and is on at least £140,000 a week – money which we all know, including Arsene, he isn’t worth. Whereas all that Per is… Read more »
Mertersacker thinks that even after that insipid Watford performance, the players are committed. Walcott thought, after the Palace performance, that they’re not. Personally I think Walcott is being far more honest, but he’s been crucified for saying something that I think most fans believe too. Not exactly sure what his wages have to do with it either tbh, if you want to talk about who’s worth what, that’s a separate discussion.
Meanwhile I don’t think Mertersacker has really “said what needs to be said”. Instead he’s said what’s always said and nothing changes
Watford wanted it more.
Per Mertesacker also said “They wanted it more” minutes after the game he captained. Full Quotes in the link below.
https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/per-mertesacker-lambasts-timid-arsenal-after-gunners-subside-to-watford-defeat-a3659061.html
You could argue Crystal Palace and Watford are two different scenarios, while technically you would be correct, essentially it boils down to the same repeated squad attitude.
Xhaka picking his nose instead of marking Cleverly is showing commitment? Ozil’s chickening out of defending the ball for umpteenth time is showing commitment?
Who’s Per kidding, the culture at the club is to turn a blind eye to players who aren’t committed and anyone who does (like Alexis) is the black sheep. His statement is pure PR. Walcott is no example of commitment and is much less committed than Per on the pitch but I respect his comment more than I do Yes man Per’s
I love Per but I really can’t trust anyone who has spent the last X amount of years watching what’s happening and still wants to jump on the coaching staff here. Just another Wenger apologist.
You can’t trust him?
Maybe he thinks he can improve things and make a difference. That’s hardly being an apologist. Not to mention he could be here long after Wenger.
Can’t trust him to inspire change or alter mentality, no. He’s been captain for two years and nothing’s changed. I just don’t understand how a professional footballer not to mention defender can see such lack of organisation, slapdash mentality, laissez faire attitude and think “yeah, I want a bit of this”. Maybe he too has got used to our nice, warm, buttery little sanctuary a little too much.
Also let’s look at the tutorage of Arsene Wenger in terms of former players going on to be successful managers. Tony Adams did great. Remi Garde likewise. Um… any others? Not sure if once Wenger leaves I particularly want coaches who do things the Arsene way. God I’ve become bitter. I never used to be like this. Sorry.
I’m sorry but I couldn’t disagree more. Surely, if there’s anything to be said then shouldn’t that be done in private and by the boss?
Unless i’m missing something, his comments are nothing more than the usual PR game they like to play after each and every abysmal performance, only this time we have the added bonus of an unspecified scapegoat.
No problem with the message, just the frequency of the messengers’ (Cech last season, Per this week) appearances in the wake of another poor showing. I wish they’d stay quiet and try fix some of the problems we have instead of talking
“Everyone has to do his job 100 per cent otherwise they are not eligible to be on the pitch,”
So that makes all you fuckers
Speaking of Cech, he and players like Monreal, Kosc and Kola are players I really feel sorry for because they are players that play for the badge on the shirt, Jack as well. I’ve heard a lot about x and y players wanting to leave.. seriously let them leave. A team like Watford doesn’t have any “star” or “luxury” players like Özil and Xhaka respectively and still they beat us. The premier league’s dynamics have shifted, every team now comes in to win. There is no pushover. I detest myself for saying it but Spurs handled a sturdy draw at… Read more »
Truth is we don’t know what BFG the Manager is going to be like, but for the moment he seem’s all aboard the Wenger Train. But should’nt Arteta be in ahead of him for a “potential” post AW job?
If anything, Per is being the team captain in front of the press, like he should be. He’s also showing his mentoring and coaching potential to the public, which are important if he’s going to be coaching the youth setup.
I wouldn’t read into the interview what you want, but rather take the picture as a whole. What do other players in the side, and people who have trained/played with him say?
About time but not just in the next handful of matches.
No, we need to travel back in time a couple of years and cover those matches as well. The we need to jump forward in time a month or so and do the speech again.
There’s a difference between giving 100% and just being rubbish (Xhaka).
You mean the most creative midfielder in the country?
Didn’t know De Bruyne was our DM.
It’s good that he has to shout to be heard from that height.
I seriously hoped this headline ended with “…a fuck” and not “100%”. Seriously. Play with 80% committment for all I care, but at least LOOK like you’re playing for a team literally millions of people would give their bollocks to play for.
It’s such a fucking shit show, the worst I’ve ever known in my time supporting the club. There’s so many players there who either aren’t good enough (but think they are good enough), players who are good enough to play for the club and want to leave. The fact our club captain is having to make these types of statements underlines how much of a mess Wenger has let this become. It’s going to be a long couple of seasons with deluded Wenger still in charge.
That accompanying picture tho ? Sanchez looks like his dad just promised him a Playstation
Sure, let’s divert from the real bogeyman not giving 100 percent.. He is the opposite of Granite… He’s more like pudding. He’s never at risk of getting injured from being overplayed and undroppable by our problem off the pitch. You know, since he never does any running. He is one of our coached and well instructed players though. He’s our DM who’s been told not to tackle because he’s really bad at it! Things such as closing down, marking and positioning he just fails at naturally so no need for wenger to chime in.
It doesn’t matter. As long as Wenger is manager, this team will never win anything decent. I saw Spuds go to madrid and get a point and I couldn’t help but feel when last we went to a big team like Madrid, Bayern, Barca and played that well. We are officially a top 6 team. Arsenal is done as a big club. Sad thing is we still have people who support Wenger.
Their organisation and discipline was sickening tbh, though Madrid are in bad form and looked it. Even though they had fairly average players like Winks and Cissoko in midfield, everyone knew their exact role; where to be, who to press and who to find when you had the ball. Sad to say but we don’t have a manager that’s capable of getting that half the time, let alone consistently.
How would you feel if you supported Arsenal and we had just won the double and then: – only won one FA Cup and one League Cup in the next 17 years – finished in 16th, 17th, 10th, 6th, 7th amongst many others low finishes – only came in the top 4 5 times in those 17 years Welcome to 1971 and the years up to 1988-9 and see how perspective says that life isn’t so bad – 3 FA Cups in the last 4 years plus finishes of 3rd, 4th, 2nd and 5th. I’d prefer to be doing better… Read more »
Is the period between 71 and 89 (18 years) that much less successful than the period between 2005 and 2017 (12 years), aren’t we getting to a point where the level of success is starting to look the same? 71-89 – (2 trophies) 1 FA Cup and a League cup plus 3 lost FA Cup finals, (which included reaching the final 3 years in a row), 1 in the league cup and 1 lost European final. 7 finals in 18 years, 2 wins at a rate of 1 final every 2.5 years 05-17 – (3 Trophies) 3 FA Cups, 1… Read more »
Purely looking at the numbers of course
Ah, so Per is the poor bastard being thrown to the wolves for having to trot out the club propaganda. What an absolute shit show. What I find galling is that they have the temerity to say everyone is committed when they are evidently not!
I’m a bit tired the players’s commitment is always and not the club’s! How could Özil feel that keown is always around Arsenal and their social media while he daily attacks our playmaker, that he won’t probably play tomorrow (and attacks will be made that he doesn’t want to travel to Belgrade), that his coach says he’ll play if needed, that the media quote “sources” saying the trainers and the players are angry at him at training and in the cabin, that Arsenal wants to get rid of him at a lower price… well, that all the propaganda starts to… Read more »
In the end, plenty will be said and little will be done.
I thought that Wenger said that players in the last year iof their contact was an ideal situation because they will be committed to giving their all (due to wanting a new contract)
Per is just getting used to being in front of the camera when he takes over from Wenger. He sounds exactly like Wenger and after he joins the academy will be the heir apparent when Wenger goes.
I think the problem is that only 5/6 players are giving their 100% and the people who would be willing to give 100% aren’t given the chance to. off the top of my head, from the first team squad, players giving even near to 100%: Cech, Nacho, Sead, Per and Lolo. part of me wants to put Lacazette in there too, but Wenger keeps subbing him at vital times. players who should be giving 100% but are just not quite hitting the form/standard: welbeck, bellerin, iwobi, elneny, ramsey, sanchez, mustafi. players who need a kick up the arse ’cause they… Read more »
i think Mert did no so much to speak in such an imperious manner. what has he shown? what skipper he is? It is like great present from grandfather Arsene for good behavior. For loyalty, for dedication, for commitment.
Is this coming from the guy who had a terrible performance against Monaco and ducked out of the way of a shot against Liverpool a few seasons back, allowing them to equalize? The same mertesacker who admitted after the world cup win he wasn’t feeling motivated? Our captain against Watford who did nothing to stem the tide or to calm everyone down when the game was going against us? He is going to address non committed players? Well he better start with the man in the mirror. I have no idea what he is like off the field in terms… Read more »
I’ve given up any ambition i had in this club like the players and management. i just support without hoping for anything.
Per should check out the video of Ozil in front of goal again. For a player after £350pw you’d expect them to make the difference against average opposition. Certainly with a goal 24 feet wide and no defender in the way. Very poor and needs teammates to call him out if they want to win.
“However, he seems clear that any dip in standards would not be tolerated.”
I know that this is your comment Arseblog but the problem is the standards within the club aren’t high enough at the momment