Per Mertesacker admits that ‘lightning quick’ forward used to bail Arsenal out all of the time

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Signing for Arsenal as part of a Arsene Wenger deadline day scramble back in 2018, Per Mertesacker was something of a polarising figure in north London.

Mertesacker was a undoubtedly a fan favourite at Arsenal, a player who made 221 appearances for the club, winning three FA Cups.

However, the German centre-back was synonymous with Arsenal’s decline – his skill-set was often exposed in the Premier League.

But on reflection, Mertesacker’s playing days at the club are remembered fondly, a World Cup winner who is now working as Arsenal’s academy manager.

That being said, Mertesacker was recently asked to choose his dream five-a-side team out of the players he played with at Arsenal.

Per Mertesacker explains why Theo Walcott was so crucial for Arsenal

The defender was speaking in an interview alongside Theo Walcott, who was asserting some light-hearted pressure on his former teammate to include him.

Mertesacker did just that, and protested that Walcott would have made his five regardless – a player who always bailed Wenger’s side out with his goals.

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However, Walcott was only the fourth name on the list, a team which began with Laurent Koscielny at the back. 

Mertesacker said: “Koscielny is in my Arsenal five-a-side, Koscielny helped me out a lot to be fair.

“I’ll pick Santi Cazorla, most definitely – couldn’t live without him.

“Tomas Rosicky, a genuine friend but also a top player.

“Then I’ll go with Theo Walcott, you’re number four on the list. Lightning quick and [he] bailed us out with his scoring ability, so thanks for that.

“Then number five, I’m not going to pick myself, I’m going to pick [Olivier] Giroud for the scorpion kick – the scorpion king.”

Tomas Rosicky linked with sporting director job at Arsenal

Of course, two of the names in Mertesacker’s team have been linked with the position vacated by Edu Gaspar at Arsenal.

Arsenal held talks with Rosicky according to reports, who is currently in a similar role at his boyhood club Sparta Prague.

And on his part, Cazorla already hinted that he wanted the job at Arsenal, even if he is still playing football in Spain right now.

Cazorla is still thriving for Real Oviedo in the Spanish second tier, an incredibly popular player at all of his former clubs.