Per Mertesacker

Per Mertesacker is a Germany international football player who currently features for the English and European powerhouse Arsenal. He plays as a central defender and is rated as one of the best in the world in his position.

Mertesacker developed at the youth academy of German club Hannover and made his debut for the first team in 2003. He quickly established himself as a very promising young centre-back and after featuring in 74 league matches and scoring seven goals, joined Werder Bremen in 2006.

Mertesacker established himself as an accomplished and formidable defenders in Europe during his time at Werder Bremen, helped the German club achieve success in the Bundesliga. He won the DFB-Pokal with Bremen in the 2008-09 season.

After scoring 12 goals in 147 league appearances for Bremen, Mertesacker joined Arsenal in the summer of 2011 on a four-year contract. He made his Premier League debut for the Gunners against Swansea City at the Emirates in a match that they won 1-0. His Champions League debut for the north London club came against Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund.

Mertesacker quickly adapted himself to the Premier League and established himself as a regular starter in central defence but an ankle injury in February 2012 ruled him out of the remainder of the 2011-12 campaign.

Mertesacker made his international debut for Germany against Iran on October 29, 2004 and before long had established himself as a regular centre-back for the European giants. He played for Germany at the 2005 Fifa Confederations Cup, the 2006 World Cup finals, Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup finals. Mertesacker has played over 80 international matches for Germany.