Per Mertesacker a gunner!

according to L'Equipe sources (not 3rd party).

Absolutely fantastic signing by Wenger. With Santos, Mertesacker and Park... all he needs is Martin. And i'm hearing that he's on the case very hard.

Everyone should get ready to eat crow if all this pans out lol.

too slow for a high defensive line

Watch Wenger bring back counter attack invisible

They're not going to play a high defensive line now that they have the muscle. No reason to. The only reason they were doing it before is that Djourou was shit in the box.... now they have a mountain in there.

He's obviously too tall. What a horrible signing by Wenger(!)

Seriously though, i hope it's true, i've been a keen admirer of Mertesacker for years

Don't get the Gunners too excited, sportsczy.

I admire Mertesacker as well, both for his qualities and his attitude on the pitch.

Will be a superb signing if happens.

75 NT caps, captain of Werder Bremen, 8m pricetag; great deal

Per is a great signing, and much needed. Not only does he add a physical presence at the back but he is one of the most intelligent Cb's in Europe.

Quality signing congrats.

So i would be the only one who wont be eating humble pie?

As i constantly defended Arsenal saying they had thier whole team out practically against United and i was extremely confident they would sign a CB and a AM?

Granted i thought it would be Cahill and not Mertesacker also didnt think would sign a LB.....

Or were thier others who believed in Arsenal?

I think many people believed in Arsenal's efforts, what surprises me a bit is that they're able to get this caliber a player this close to the transfer deadline.

I guess Bremen are well covered in the CB dept. then.

this is all united fault, if the hadnt destroies arsenal they wouldnt be making these good signings

Hope it happens so I can go back to hating Bremen.
Mertesacker is the only player of that club I like.

He's has been pretty shit last season but maybe he can
find back to his form.
He was pretty error-free the last 3 tournaments Germany
played.

That said, one would think he was kinda sick about playing
in such attacking minded formations.

Imo he would be much better suited to the Seria A than the
Premier League. He's just very slow.

The BBC have confirmed we're in advanced talks for him, but nothing has been agreed yet. German press reckon he'll cost us €9,000,000. Surely we'll pay that.

In France, I hear that an agreement has been reached with the player and the transfer fee is being negotiated.

Regarding Mertesacker's speed... that's not why Arsenal need him. There's plenty of speed with Sagna, Vermaelen, Koz, Santos. They can cover that weakness easily. However, Arsenal need a physical and smart presence at the CB spot. Also need a dominant aerial defender.

Perfect signing.

pros

* leadership qualities, nice guy
* intelligent
* elite positioning
* good header
* good tackler

cons
* slooooooooooooow
* slow on the turn
* not used to PL football
* average technique
* no build-up play

So yeah, doubtful he'd make Arsenal better, then again Robert Huth
who is considered a hack in Germany isn't doing too bad in the PL.

so a defensive line similar to:
-------------Szchasjdghas
Sagna-------Per--------Koz--------Verminator

Seems great on paper.

StrugaRock wrote:so a defensive line similar to:
-------------Szchasjdghas
Sagna-------Per--------Koz--------Verminator

Seems great on paper.

Dont think Vermaelen will be moved to LB .

Also conceded the most goals from set pieces last year.....

Signing a 6 ft 6 CB would surely help that no? not to mention he's a very clean in the tackle so he wont be suspended very often hes a defender very much in the Pique mold....

Absolutely fantastic signing and Santos aswell he may not be the greatest defensively but he's absolutely fantastic going forward and Sagna on the other side is an absolute rock....

All the best teams have one full back who is defensive and one full back who is attacking.....

Inter had Zanetti and Maicon, Utd has Neville and Evra and Barca has Abidal and Alves...

Both are great signings imo now aslong as an AM is signed aswell Arsenal are definitely back in the hunt for top 4....

drakefyre wrote:

StrugaRock wrote:so a defensive line similar to:
-------------Szchasjdghas
Sagna-------Per--------Koz--------Verminator

Seems great on paper.

Dont think Vermaelen will be moved to LB .

Why not, I think he has played there before, he is fast and Arsenal don't have a WC LB(Andre Santos[rumor] is average)

Even though Verm might be a be able to lb, his strongest postition is Cb and imo he along with RVP are the best in the Arsenal squad.

StrugaRock wrote:

drakefyre wrote:

StrugaRock wrote:so a defensive line similar to:
-------------Szchasjdghas
Sagna-------Per--------Koz--------Verminator

Seems great on paper.

Dont think Vermaelen will be moved to LB .

Why not, I think he has played there before, he is fast and Arsenal don't have a WC LB(Andre Santos[rumor] is average)

Average defensively but not average he is great going forward as i said in my above post all the top sides have attacking full back on one side and a defensive one on the other.....

Maicon is average defensively, Alves is and Evra is......

But what was consistent with every single one of them when their teams have won the CL?

On the other side there were defensive rocks i.e. Abidal, Neville and Zanetti....

Arsenal have this in Sagna

Sagna Mertesacker Vermaelen Santos

If this defensive line doesnt work, then something is terribly wrong with coaching staff.