10 things you need to know about Per Mertesacker

By Mirror Football in Football Spy

Published 11:48 26/05/10

Arsenal are being linked with a summer swoop for Werder Bremen defender Per Mertesacker.

But what do we know about the German centre-back? Here's what MirrorFootball's Daniel List discovered...

1) He was born on September 29, 1984 in Hannover, Germany.

2) He is nicknamed 'die Abwehrlatte' by the German tabloids, which translates as 'The Defense Pole'. Which is not entirely surprising given his towering 6ft 6in frame!

3) He made his international debut against Iran in 2004, aged just 20. He has since amassed 60 caps in total and will go to the World Cup as an integral part of Germany's defence.

4) After spending three years at his hometown club, Hannover 96, Mertesacker moved to Werder Bremen for €5million in August 2006 . He netted his first Champions League goal against Chelsea in November that year.

5) He has played down Germany's chances of World Cup glory by insisting that Spain are the team to beat. Having lost to Fernando Torres and Co in the final of Euro 2008, he says: "We are definitely not big favourites for the World Cup and we cannot expect to just march our way through. We have to perform as a team. Spain are the favourites for the World Cup."

6) After Germany's World Cup quarter-final penalty shoot-out win over Argentina in 2006, Mertesacker was attacked by Argentine substitute Leandro Cufre and suffered thigh and groin injuries. And you thought England were bad losers in shoot-outs!

7) He has come close to winning several top honours, only to miss out in the latter stages of tournaments. He has UEFA Cup and Euro 2008 runners-up medals and was in the Germany teams that came third in the 2005 Confederations Cup and the 2006 World Cup.

8) During his time at Hannover, Mertesacker became good friends with the late Robert Enke. Along with Chelsea star Michael Ballack he presented the laurel during the goalkeeper's memorial. He later started a charitable foundation, the Per Mertesacker Foundation, to raise money for his widow.

9) After impressing at Euro 2008, Mertesacker signed a new deal at Werder Bremen that runs until 2012 and Werder's sporting director Klaus Allofs has warned off approaches for his star defender, claiming: “A transfer is ruled out. Per is not negotiable."

10) However, Mertesacker has now hinted that he fancies a move to Arsenal by saying: “There are certainly attractive clubs abroad. In particular ones who have been playing in the Champions League for many years.”