According to some reports this morning, Per Mertesacker has been made available for transfere by Werder Bremen. He is in the last year of his contract with the german club and would be able to leave for free next season. Apparently he could be available for as little as 6 million, at 26 years old, an established german international, comanding in the air and a top class defender i believe that he represents a far better buy than either cahill or Jagielka who are both on long term contracts and are ridiculously over priced. Time to make your move Wenger, this player is exactly what we need at a sensible price, no excuses.
I have read on the BBC website that he has apparently told the Bild newspaper he fancies a move to the premiership
i started a thread about him a few weeks ago but ppl say hes too slow and we should go for samba, cahill, or jagelka. mertesacker would be a fine addition to our squad and a lot cheaper than the rest for a proven germany international and not just there to make the numbers up like cahill and jagelka. i would'nt like to know what a fully fledged english international be priced at
Yeah it was on some other website givemefootball or something... I personally think he is too slow and that Samba would be the better option as he is used to the pace of the EPL.
Samba would be double the price and also isn't the quickest. Not sure I'd want either, I'm just being annoying and playing devil's advocate. Would be nice to have that big, beast style CB for once though and both would fit the bill in that regard.
Not sure he fits our style of play of playing a high line. We rely on fast defenders going forward and back when an opposing team are on the break. I think people look into a defenders speed too much, JT isn't the fastest off the blocks but he is tactically and positional very aware. It's all about being in the right place and having good anticipation.
He is more experienced than Cahill, Samba and Jagielka. He is a regular international for Germany. I'd be more than happy with this signing! The only thing he lacks is Premiership experience.
He's decent enough but played in a defence that conceeded a MASSIVE number of goals last season. Better than Samba, not as good as Cahill. (I think Cahill is better than people realise. He's decent on the ball, strong and good in the air. He has always looked assured at International level and at 24 he's still improving)
I agree 100% about our defensive high line. Can't help but think it's about time we adjusted how we defend as much as it is about us getting someone new in.
Yes and No. The way we play definitely does'nt help things defensively but we still conceded WAY to many goals from individual errors. Djourou is average. Koscielney is a good technical defender but too lightweight to play alongside Vermaelen. Gibbs he's decent at best. Injury prone and better going forward than defensively. Squillaci wouldnt get into any of the other TOP 6 sides squads. We need powerful defenders who can defend - Who cares if they're not the greatest on the ball.
The problem with our defence is not just the defenders, but the team as a whole. The main problem is large chunks of the team either fall asleep or make small individual errors, that result in goals. The type of game we play relies on the entire team to defend, but sometimes that doesn't happen. Watch teams like Barca, they all defend from Puyol to Messi. We have players like Arshavin who can't or won't defend....
He's a German International, and I have to say Germany right now are one of the best teams in the world. They don't have any players who stand out like an iniesta or messi, except maybe ozil. But AS A TEAM they are brilliant. And he might not be the fastest, but who cares? If he can do the job for Germany, I'm sure he can do it for Arsenal.
At times its not the high line that hurts Arsenal, its set plays.. from open field we were the best defence last season. In deadball situations its painfully obvious we are weak. (This is down to the coaching staff 100%) However adding height to the defence in Mertesacker its another 3 inches ontop of djourous height, and half a foot ontop of vermaelen, it can only help during a deadball situation, regardless of how piss poor the coaching is. Also I believe this is a hint either towards Arsenal fans that he is well on his way to being signed by Arsenal (since a story about him wanting PL football and to play in Europe still, a few weeks earlier may of prompted a bid) or a hint to Arsene to sign me, I will do well here. Both are good omens. Arsene is trying to play mindgames with the other managers, leaving them tactically unaware of where we are at preseason. Mostly because the media has the view of condemming Arsenals signing before they are given a chance, as well as the likes of City not poaching our potential targets. And Id much rather pay 10 million for a player who has European and International experience, than one who has just PL experience and costs nearly twice as much.
He is EXACTLY what we need! He's tall (6'6, that's ridiculous!), he's strong, and will adjust to the English pace easily because the German league is similar to the EPL. I guess that's why Wenger won't buy him!
At £6m he would be a great signing. For anyone who doesn't think we should buy him, I've got one word for you - Squillaci
