5 Arsenal Players at Risk of Down Years

1. Per Mertesacker

View image | gettyimages.com

Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny have been the most dominant center back pairing in the Premier League in the past, but with each year, Mertesacker becomes less and less of a sure-fire rock and more and more of a question mark. His lack of speed continues to lessen and it has cost Arsenal.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 3 observations from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
• 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
• Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
• 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park

Gabriel Paulista is going to take Mertesacker’s spot at some point this year. He was on the brink of doing so in the short time he had with the Gunners this past year. He and Koscielny play a brand new type of partnership centered on combined aggression and interceptions.

Mertesacker was too often caught out of position last year and with pace like his, being caught out of position is detrimental.

I am sure Mertesacker will still find playing time, Wenger likes him too much to just sit him, but his options will gradually diminish as Paulista asserts himself.

Next: Cech Signing Proves Benzema can be Done

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 3 observations from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
• 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
• Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
• 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park