Arsenal in talks to sign Per Mertesacker

Brophs

According to SSN.

It would be quite funny if only because Pete calls him 'Sack de Merde'.

Randall Flagg

Experienced.

But why wont they buy someone with PL experience?

Cina

Mertesacker may not have PL experience but he has 75 caps for Germany and is certainly a better player than Cahill. Probably won't cost a bomb either cause he's not English.

Would be a great buy for them really.

Blair

He's only 26? Fuck I thought he was about 32.

Skywarden

He's a little too slow for an Arsenal defence I reckon.

Solius

Poor signing.

Siorac

He'll help them against aerial bombardments but his lack of pace would have made Sunday's debacle even worse, if that's possible.

He's used to playing in ridiculously open formations as Schaaf isn't really a fan of, well, defending. It'll be interesting to see how he does in England.

Donkey's Ears

He is absolutely not what Arsenal need.

KM

Terrible signing, I don't know why he's rated so highly. Has always looked average for me.

Kelvin

he get caught out by the pace of premiership football, not what arsenal need.

Blair

This makes me smile.

SATA

Is he first choice for his country? That must mean something if he is, i mean you can't be that bad if you start for Germany

Sarni

Germans aren't really good defensively, they've had some pretty ordinary players in there lately.

SATA

You kidding? Not trying to get off topic, but England for example could do with some of those ordinary players really

stubie1234

Would be a decent signing

gaz1185

Pascal Cygan MKII by the sounds of it, good signing.

Adzzz

I think buying PL experience would help, surely Parker would add some gut to their midfield?

Mertesacker isn't shit though.

Aint gota Kalou

Isn't he a bit too slow to play for Arsenal considering the high line they play?

golden_blunder

better than what they have (though thats not difficult!)

they should go for Shawcross & Cahill

Siorac

I don't think Arne Friedrich, Per Mertesacker, Marcell Jansen or Holger Badstuber would get anywhere near an England team. Would you swap any of them for Chris Smalling? We saw Jerome Boateng though he's got time on his side and Hummels has immense potential but it's fair to say that defence has been the weakest link - at least in terms of individual quality - of the German national team for a while now.

SATA

Right i misread that, he did said defensively

Donkey's Ears

Is he better than Vermaelen or Koscielny? I don't know. Certainly not the former - maybe the latter?

Probably an improvement on Djourou I admit.

But yes Shawcross and Cahill would be much better for them and I can't understand why they don't bite the bullet.

I would splash the cash in midfield. Their first choice defence isn't too bad (save for left back) but Song is not good enough particularly when partnered with Ramsay and/or Frimpong.

SteveJ

That'd go down well with Gunners fans, mate.

Skywarden

I thought so too. Perhaps they are getting rid of the high line?

gooDevil

If you play to his strengths, he can be a great asset. Especially for being at this late point, this is about as good a pick up as they could hope for.

It's great to see Wenger buying experienced defenders, maybe he's sane after all!

mufcwarm92

I think he's decent. Nothing more than that, but decent is much better than what they've already got.

Red Pavan

They won't be getting Cahill now i guess? That's a bit stupid...

They should have just gone for Baines and Cahill. Although they both cost twice as much, they are as experienced and younger than both and English.

Ole's_toe_poke

Mertesacker is slow and shit. Typical Wenger, won't pay for his first choice targets and will sign shite for cheap. I hope they get him.

I remember a month or so ago, Rafa Honigstein said he was shocked that Arsenal would consider him.

Solius

I don't understand why they don't go for someone like Mats Hummels.

Brwned

Better than Shawcross but worse than Cahill, at least in terms of the defensive setup, so bit of a strange move really. Surely an improvement on Squillaci though so that's a start.

That costs money. You could definitely see him and Vermaelen making a great partnership though.

Jaap

Looks like he's underrated on here as well as by Monsieur Honigstein.

Merte is an intelligent defender, not the quickest, I give you that, but his positioning is good, he's good in the air and can pick a pass or two.

Devilton

He's slow as fuck...

So slow he makes Robert Huth look like Usain Bolt.

Poor signing this.

DocRockter

They need someone who gives a damn about pride and takes honor of wearing the shirt.. To me a German is a good choice to add into that squad.

davisjw

Absolutely surprised by all of the negativity. He has as much pace as Rio and is a beast in the 18 yard box. He's absolutely what they need - power and physique. They already have the speedster CBs and the game reading ones, what they don't have is a Sol Campbell-type CB.

prateik

Rio is quick
Due to have a medical according to SSN

Brophs

He is in his shite. Rio's extremely quick, Mertesacker's anwhere from pretty slow to very slow.

Ekeke

He's known to be a bit brainless, it was said that he needed an experienced leader next to him in the German set up. Whether Vermaelen is the man for that when he makes mistakes himself, we'll see

He should at least improve on what they have

Siorac

He's got nowhere near the physique of a Sol Campbell.

moses

He's better than what they have and has a good bit of experience.

R.Nilsson7

He'll be a decent signing for them.