Pain in the Arsenal
Fansided

Arsenal: Mid-Season player rankings

By Andrew Dowdeswell

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 22: Aaron Ramsey of Arsenal celebrates scoring his sides fourth goal during the Premier League match between Everton and Arsenal at Goodison Park on October 22, 2017 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 22: Aaron Ramsey of Arsenal celebrates scoring his sides fourth goal during the Premier League match between Everton and Arsenal at Goodison Park on October 22, 2017 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
14 of 21
Next
Arsenal, Per Mertesacker
WATFORD, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 14: Christian Kabasele of Watford jumps between Per Mertesacker and Mohamed Elneny of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Watford and Arsenal at Vicarage Road on October 14, 2017 in Watford, England. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images) /

8. Per Mertesacker

All that can be asked of an experience, veteran, reserve player is that when they are called upon to play, whether it be through injury, suspension or some other reason they stand in with resilience and reliability, helping to bring a seamless transition from one player to the next. That is exactly what Per Mertesacker has done.

When Shkodran Mustafi suffered a thing injury on international duty for Germany, Wenger, with Rob Holding and Calum Chambers both available as more than capable stand-ins, turned straight to the experience and game-understanding of Mertesacker. He was right to do so.

Mertesacker has anchored the Arsenal defence superbly when called upon. Although his immobility and lack of pace is a problem that must be protected and adapted to, his reading of the game, his leadership, his organisation and his communication at the heart of the defence is invaluable. Mertesacker has done everything that could have been asked of him. You can’t be better than that.

(Andy: 8th; Josh: 8th)

Home/Arsenal News