Arsenal: Per Mertesacker's Appointment Creates Clarity

Per Mertesacker will become Arsenal’s academy manager in a year’s time, and while the decision is significant for Arsenal’s academy players, it’s also significant for certain senior players.

Arsenal recently announced that club captain Per Mertesacker will become the club’s academy manager in a year’s time after the expiry of his current contract.

Here’s what both Arsene Wenger and Mertesacker himself had to say about the news;

"Arsène Wenger: “Per is an exceptional character who is a great example for young players. He is a deep thinker about the game and committed to helping players fulfil their potential. He will be an inspirational figure for everyone connected with the academy.”Per Mertesacker: “This is the start of an exciting new chapter for me and I am delighted that I will be able to stay part of the Arsenal family. This season I will remain fully focused on my job with the team and am looking forward to a successful last season on the pitch. After that, I look forward to the exciting challenge of helping produce young players good enough to play for the Arsenal first team.”"

Jeorge Bird has outlined the challenges facing Mertesacker once he steps into his new role, but this move is incredibly significant for the development of Calum Chambers and Krystian Bielik.

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This appointment creates clarity for the young defenders, whose path to the first-team is now much clearer. Besides Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny and Nacho Monreal are also aging and there will soon be a need for some fresh faces in the Gunner’s backline.

As of now, it would seem that Rob Holding, Shkodran Mustafi and Calum Chambers are the ones most likely to hold down the defence in the coming years, that is of course if the Gunners do indeed continue with a three-back formation.

It would not surprise me if both Calum Chambers and Krystian Bielik were shipped out on loan again for this upcoming season. Chambers impressed on loan at Middlesborough last season while Bielik dazzled at Birmingham City during the second part of last season.

According to ITV, Norwich City are close to acquiring the Polish U21 international’s services on a temporary basis.

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It is possible that both Calum Chambers and Krystian Bielik will have chances to play significant minutes next season, minutes that might not have been available had Mertesacker continued his playing career.

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Arsenal: Per Mertesacker’s appointment creates clarity

By Henry Payne | Jul 8, 2017

Per Mertesacker will become Arsenal’s academy manager in a year’s time, and while the decision is significant for Arsenal’s academy players, it’s also significant for certain senior players.

More from Pain in the Arsenal