A dominant centre back has been on the top of most fan’s shopping list since Sol Campbell left the club but it has taken five years for the man to be signed.
Per Mertesacker appears to have good positioning, is tall and is composed in possession. He has captained his country on a number of occasions and has over 70 caps. He is, as one fan nicknamed him, defendersaurus.
Watching the game on Saturday was a strange experience as those in the loftier seats could have been forgiven for thinking they had travelled back in time ten years as our giant centre back galloped across the pitch. He is slightly taller than Tony Adams but has a similar style and has already admitted that Mr. Arsenal is his inspiration. A superb piece of PR and just what we needed after shipping 8 goals at Old Trafford.
His first game for the club produced a rare 1-0 victory and his potential partnership with Thomas Vermaelen is something to look forward to. The manager has finally added the final piece to the defensive jigsaw and after years of care free football, we have the defensive characters in place to ensure we can begin building towards a more conscientious future.
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