Arsenal defender in U-turn on new contract?

Arsenal’s Per Mertesacker is considering retiring from playing this summer, despite having agreed a new contract for the 2017-18 campaign.

The German international has been our club captain all year, despite picking up a long-term injury in pre-season, and only managed to pick up two appearances in all competitions after recovering.

We are now expected to bring in another defender or two to fill our three central roles in our new formation, and Mertesacker now looks set to give up on his playing role, but remains keen on staying with the club in another capacity.

“I was extremely lucky with my career and I want to finish on a high,” Mertesacker said.

“I am motivated, but I cannot play every three days any more. I don’t want to stretch my luck.

“I recently told him [manager Arsene Wenger] that I am tired, mentally wasted. The first time in my career I thought it makes no sense anymore, that I’ll retire. No matter how hard I practiced I didn’t get a chance.

“At Arsenal you are replaceable so quickly as a player, I don’t want to stand in someone’s way. Winning the FA Cup was an extreme close which I could not expect.

“Arsenal want to keep hold of me and there are already talks. It will be in the business operations. I will stand on the other side.”

Mertesacker deserves to go out on a high after his display against Chelsea, and I’m more than happy for him to step down in favour of allowing Rob Holding and others more opportunities.

Does Per deserve a testimonial for his service to the club? Could he still have had a role to play for us next season?

Pat J

Tags Arsenal Per Mertesacker

10 Comments

  1. He played one game all of last season.
    Admittedly that one game he played very well.
    But it is pointless offering him a new contract – we need to free up resources and not spend it on players who won’t play a game..
    Let a young player take his squad place so we can develop players and offer Per a coaching roll because I can see him doing very well at that..

  2. Why taik of contract extension when the player himself has admitted in his inability to still perform at the highest level?

  3. I don’t see what the problem is?
    We need players like third and fourth goalkeeper and outfield players in the team in case of injuries from a busy schedule we have in the EPL and if Per don’t mind been a sub most of the season and with a reduced salary then both parties are happy, I would like to see Per involved in your development the guy is intelegent and has respect for Arsenal

    1. His xp saved our asses when he came our defenders have learned a lot from him and still not enough but Per has added and we wouldve been a lot worse if we hadnt got him.
      Of course he had his bad games but who hasnt.
      Good luck to him i hope he stays cause hes seen it all and we need people like him teaching the tricks to the next Adams coming thro.
      Which i hope Holding can be.

  4. With all the problems we had at the back this year and his great knowledge of reading a game and defending (not really his fault he is slow, you can’t teach natural pace), I think it would be great to have him work with the defenders.

  5. Was looking forward to him playing more in a back three where his lack of pace wouldn’t be exploited.

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