When Per Mertesacker got injured last season and was completely left out of the Arsenal side even when he had recovered fully, it looked like he had kicked his last ball for the Gunners. But due to injuries and suspensions the BFG was brought in for his first and ONLY start of the season against Chelsea in the FA Cup Final, and he was immense in the middle of Arsenal’s new back three formation.
He has recently announced that this will be his last season as a player at Arsenal, and he will move on to running the academy players from next summer, and having been club captain for some time he obviously has great leadership qualities. Maybe he can teach our kids how to defend better!
But, as he said, he will still be playing this season, and due to Holding and Mustafi not being in the travelling Arsenal squad due to their international exploits, Mertesacker was once again in the starting line-up. The Big German not only helped to keep a clean sheet, but he was also up the other end to put us in the lead after just six minutes of the game.
“At the moment, Per does everything!” Wenger said. “He defends, he scores goals, so it’s a moment of his career where it’s all going well for him. We are all happy for him.”
So it could be that a three-man defence suits him perfectly as the extra man will camouflage his lack of pace, so do you think he should now be a permanent starter for Arrsenal when the new season gets under way?
Admin
No Please.
Give him the role of scolding any player that commit defensive blunder.
He will be a great club captain playing in the league cup, europe league and against lesser PL teams to both give the main guys a rest whilst also helping bring on Holding and Chambers… also helping Sead to settle in quickly to PL with his experience
He is a worthy back-up.
Holding-Koscielny-Mustafi …… that is my preferred back three. I would love if those three can build a good partnership. Gabriel, Chambers and Per can all fill-in in case of injuries, suspension or rotation.
Don’t forget Wenger has also been using Monreal as a centre-back. He may not have the pace to go forward any more like Ox and Bellerin, but he is a great back to have on the left of the back three….
Back 3 of MKM Mustafi-Koscielny-Monreal more likely.
The Sydney FC game saw Kolasinac start there with Per and Bielik and finished with Maitland-Niles, El Neny (yes El Neny) and Monreal.
Expect Per to be used sparingly due to age and pace but make no mistake, we have no better CB when it comes to reading the game.
Chambers had a good season at Boro and was picked ahead of Holding for England for the U21 Euros. It looks like he has kicked on, just not into the first 11.
Yes! But I think having more central defenders in the team should be a reason to start three solid defenders. Although, Monreal on the left of the back three makes it easy to revert to 4 at the back at times when some tactical changes are needed during the course of a game. In any case, Arsene is the person laddened with the responsibility of picking the team. We just all hope he does it right more than 75% of the time.
Hi Admin. I think Per should be in the starting line up. The FA cup final against Chelsea, he showed composure. Better reading of the game. No panicking. Kos has given away silly penalties in recent times. Our fans were saying we had no defence against chelsea. But Per showed composure. I would chose Per, Holding and one of Kos and Mustafi. A three man defense is good for Per. My thought though.
Oh and oh Arsenal fans! Is it because he played well in the Face cup final or because he scored against Sydney? Koscielny, Mustafi, Holding, Gabriel… Metersacker is the fifth choice.
He should be allowed to play some games with the current 3 at the back formation. His leadership quality, good reading of the game and pace of the other 2 will compensate for his lack of pace.
In the FA cup final, his experience brought out the best in Bellerin, Holding and Moreal against stars like Costal and Hazard. Even Ox was played in unusual left wing back, yet we weren’t found out. We need him around in this coming season. Who knows, the feeling of having one great final season and the desire to send him into retirement with the EPL by the team will be an advantage.
I like your comment. Not sure he should play every game but I like the fact that he’ll lay it all out there with it being his last season and provide some great leadership for our young guys at the back. Could be a key player this season!
Yes, Yes, Yes……He wouldn’t have to go out with this 3 men at back . Play him Mustafi and Koscielny. I know he’s not going to play all the games but He would be useful when we play some teams that have great header as strikers.
Our starting back 3 should be
Koscielny Mustafi Kolsanic
But yes Mertsacker is an excellent and underrated central defender
He should start when one of above are injured or to give a player rest and start FA Cup and League matches
Mertsacker was one of the stars of the FA CUP FINAL. He was excellent. Remember Mertsacker helped us win 3 FA Cups
Listen we play Premier League, Europa League, FA Cup and League Cup. There will be times when we will NEED Mertsacker’s experience and quality.
This is his final season as player/captain. Let’s make it special by winning more trophies including the Premier League title.
Per will be needed especially in Europa.
Season is long and he(BFG) will be handy in many games, plenty of experience.
I’m very worried about the Lemar situation
Seems as though Monaco are refusing to go into negotiations until a substantial offer is received
Also looks like they are reluctant to sell now , now that Bakayoko and Mendy are leaving
if we are to stick to 3421, we still need at least another top CB like Van Dijk.
Koscielny is the only reliable CB we’ve got
Mustafi was poor in d 2nd half of d season
Holding is good but still lacks xperience n cnt start week in n out.
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Mertesacker is slow n its his last year
Monreal gets beat easily by pacey n tricky attackers
Gabriel can go berzek during games n isnt technically sound. reminisce Bayern game.
Chambers did okay in Boro but still needs another loan move to attain full maturity.
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VanDijk-Mustafi-Koscielny starting;
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Holding-Per-Gabriel (Monreal) for Europa n FAcup.
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Chambers loaned to Southampton as part of deal that gets vanDijk
What a lot of nonsense, if holding is good enough (which he’s shown) he is playing. There’s lots of examples of young players playing week in week out cz they are good enough
For me let their be rotation of players, after watching our newly promoted young Gunners, just thinking about the…………………. Premier league…………….. Europa League ? trophies possible the F A cup and the community shield won’t be bad too, Gunners………………. ?
Per should play against lesser PL teams to give Kos time to rest his Achilles, plus Europa and League Cup as others have said. It seems like on the back line at least we have plenty of players to rotate, we should do so.
We do need one more DM to supplement le Coq as backup to Ramsey and Xhaka. I’d feel better with one more defensively oriented midfielder on the team.
Where is Steve Bould? Is he with the team?
I believe we should be cautious with the Holding hype… He is descent but young… Let’s not destroy his morale… See how Iwobi started, ask Chelsea of Zoama… How about Chambers… Ronato Sanchez of bayern.. And even our own Bellerin… Too much pressure at that age.
By biggest worry this season is Wanger tactical flexibility. Now we win games with 3@dbk we don’t seem to hv any other ideas up our sleeve until it no longer works… Until we loose 5games in a row. .. Just scared
We have barely kick a ball and we have no other tactics? You need calm down brother ???