Arsenal Sign Per Mertesacker

[Master Splinter]

'You can't afford to concede set-pieces'

The importance of set-pieces in football is the driving force behind Per Mertesacker's excellent disciplinary record.

The Arsenal defender has received just one yellow card in 16 appearances for his new club and had an even better record at Werder Bremen with a solitary booking in his last 67 Bundesliga games.

That impressive record is no accident, according to the Germany international.

"Set-pieces are very dangerous in the modern game," Mertesacker told Arsenal Player.

"They can make the difference in the game and therefore you have to defend your goal the best way you can, and that's my way. You have to be patient.

"You are always looking for the ball, that is the main thing for me. You want to win it and that's the main reason [for my record]."

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-arc...de-set-pieces-





Mertesacker .

Loving the efficiency of this German.

Typical German tbf.

Much like Koscielny, he's a clean tackler. Shows that you don't always need GHELlish brutes in this League.

[Dog Toffee]

He's a walking accident, but he must be doing something right as we're better defensively recently.

[Fist of Lehmann]

I've never been impressed with him before. He's got a mistake in him and hes neither vocal nor a leader. I suppose his height will come in handy but one player wont change our frailties at set. Our lack of organisation and focus have nothing to do with height.

'Better than nothing' sums it up I think.

As it transpires, not entirely true. Apparently RvP's captaincy is ably assisted in the dressing room by Permasacker. Which is no less than you'd expect from an enormous, seasoned, German international defender.

He is also much worse at winning headers than you'd expect, but his unflappable attitude and decent reading of the game mean that he has been a definite asset, particularly during Vermaelen's early absence, and our current fullback holocaust (am I allowed to say that?).

I know I said that he was better than nothing, but he is proving himself to be a good deal better than nothing. I can admit that now because I am a big man.

[Marc Overmars]

His languid style always scares the shit out of me but he's undoubtedly a good centre back.

[Cripps_orig]

Has been excellent. Couple of dodgy moments as you'd expect but on the whole, hes been a success. Long may it continue.

[Kano]

It's no coincidence that since Merts arrival, the defence has looked far more composed and less likely to flap around in panic after scoring/near the end of the games.

Read somewhere that the defence now practices separately from the rest of the team under the guidance of Rice which also seems to have helped the overall cohesiveness of the back 5.

[Niall_Quinn]

TV, Merts, Kos and even JD, this is a much tighter defence than we've seen in years. Wenger paid the £10mill for Kos and only £3mill for Squid (what a waste of money), so it does indicate he had a clue about what he was looking for. Then he pays £10mill for Merts. Contrary to all expectation it looks like he's got it about right. At worst we can say we have a lot less screw-ups in the bank for the coming season, we hope. JD fell off a cliff last year, maybe the presence of TV and the added experience of Merts will prevent something similar happening this time around. As usual, fingers crossed on the injury situation, it could all change fast.

[Fist of Lehmann]

Expect Cahill will go to Chelsea now, maybe Gartside did us a favour in the end.

And Cahill, teaching us the value of selling on a player whose head's been turned.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Expect Cahill will go to Chelsea now, maybe Gartside did us a favour in the end.

And Cahill, teaching us the value of selling on a player whose head's been turned.

Too right, he has not been worth the 20 mill they was looking for and he was not before either.

[selassie]

He's had some good games and a few mares. His reading of the game is very good as is his tackling but there's definitely room for improvement. I like him though, I think once he builds up a bit more confidence and fully adjusts to the physical side of the game he will be a very good signing.