Per Mertesacker: The BFG

[say yes]

Proud that this guy has worn the shirt.

 

[tcahill]

Seeing as he's probably going to be our starting CB now that Mustafi is out, how has he been performing in cup games this season? I haven't really heard much about him good or bad.

 

[Makingtrax]

A giant in every respect.

 

[skip spence]

Seeing as he's probably going to be our starting CB now that Mustafi is out, how has he been performing in cup games this season? I haven't really heard much about him good or bad.

I've seen him play a couple of games. Didn't put a foot wrong really but the opposition wasn't very good and he did look slower than ever. Should do alright in a back three with some pace to back him up.

 

[tap-in]

Seeing as he's probably going to be our starting CB now that Mustafi is out, how has he been performing in cup games this season? I haven't really heard much about him good or bad.

If Kos is still out he'll be our main CB. Chambers should be fit again but already we are looking careless for not bringing in a top CB in the summer. Déjà vu!

 

[Makingtrax]

Chambers still has a hip injury. Per and Holding are the main men. And good old reliable Nacho of course.

 

[Mark Tobias]

A giant in every respect.

Careful now. I might start calling you out for supporting Per and not Arsenal! LOL.

Massive player for us. Can't believe how unlucky he has been at times but we definitely wouldn't have as many cups without him.

 

[tcahill]

Monreal-Per-Kos looks solid on paper, and we'll get Chambers back soon. Still not sure what's happening with Holding.

At least Ox is gone so Arsène is physically unable to do that Kolasinac-Monreal-RCB bs.

 

[Makingtrax]

Monreal-Per-Kos looks solid on paper, and we'll get Chambers back soon. Still not sure what's happening with Holding.

At least Ox is gone so Arséne is physically unable to do that Kolasinac-Monreal-RCB bs.

Just hope Kos is fit. He's a doubt for sure.

 

[Tom349]

Not sure why this guy is escaping criticism for his performance against Watford. Was incredibly weak for their second goal and stood there a number of times when they were having shots from just outside the box. It is little wonder the likes of Xhaka are standing around the box when they have insipid captain who refuses to put his body on the line when it is needed.

 

[IslingtonBornandbred]

Not sure why this guy is escaping criticism for his performance against Watford. Was incredibly weak for their second goal and stood there a number of times when they were having shots from just outside the box. It is little wonder the likes of Xhaka are standing around the box when they have insipid captain who refuses to put his body on the line when it is needed.

Per is always up and down. There are some who see him like a legend, a man mountain and there are others that recognise he pretty much sums up the defensive frailties at our club.

Yes, he has had good games, yes he played brilliantly against Chelsea in the Cup, and yes he says the right things. In my opinion, he's a liability. He's slow, he's cost us a lot of times with his lack of pace, he's always a slip or fall from a disaster and most importantly, there have been numerous occasions where he's ducked and cowered from shots which have lead to goals.

There is a reason he's retiring at the end of the season to become the academy manager, and obviously there must be major concerns about a guy who is transitioning into a non playing role at the end of the season playing regularly in the EPL for a supposedly top club.

 

[CurryFlavoured]

I thought that he played well, and I prefer him over Mustafi and Holding.

 

[Mark Tobias]

I thought that he played well, and I prefer him over Mustafi and Holding.

I also thought he was one of our better players but @IslingtonBornandbred is quite right about the ducking and cowering away from shots. Does it often.

 

[tcahill]

He's at a squaddie level and that's how Wenger plays him. Mustafi is ahead of him in the middle CB position, as he should be. No problems here.

 

[say yes]

Love what he brings to the team in terms of character but remembering game by game why he was phased out.

Needs to sharpen up. Far too tentative at times.

 

[tap-in]

The sooner Chambers is fit and ready the better. I love Per but his playing days should have ended when we won the FA Cup, he was great on that day but since then its easy to see his career is near the end.

 

[blaze_of_glory]

Yeah I don't think there's much doubt he's past his best and should not be first choice if everyone is fit. Can still contribute this year though and has done so far when needed.

 

[IslingtonBornandbred]

You club captain ladies and gents.

He's was a walking, slow jogging liability in the first place. Why is a guy retiring at the end of the season who is clearly just a mascot starting in the EPL? He's got a mistake in him every game.

 

[nick gould]

This dude is a passenger today. He steps forward to challenge for aerial balls and he loses out despite being 2 metres tall. He leaves a massive gap behind and has zero pace to recover. Back three allows the other two defenders to carry the ball foward comfortable with the knowledge that they are leaving 2 centre backs. You can tell that it’s not the case today. They know Per is just a passenger. Take him off.

 

[NieThePiet]

There is a really fantastic interview from him in the german newspaper about the pressure in football. (published in "Der Spiegel").

http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/...eber-druck_wuergen-bis-die-augen-traenen.html

There is part in Kicker in german. If you want, you can translate it. Haven't found an english version somewhere so far.

Ich weiß es noch, als wäre es heute. Ich dachte nur: Es ist vorbei, es ist vorbei. Endlich ist es vorbei.

I still remember it as if it was today. I just thought: It's over, it's over. Finally it is over.

After Germany loss against Italy in 2006.