Mertesacker advises Arsenal on Dortmund
New Arsenal signing Per Mertesacker will provide inside information on the side’s Champions League opponents Borussia Dortmund, as The Gunners travel to take on the Bundesliga holders at Signal Iduna Park on Tuesday.
The Germany international signed for the London club from Werder Bremen this summer after eight seasons playing in his homeland, and Arsene Wenger has confirmed that the defender’s knowledge will be vital to preparation.
“Mertesacker knows the stadium well and German football well. He is strong and talks, he communicates,” the French coach told Mirror Football.
“We have a big game on Tuesday against a very big side. It’s a massive game and a chance to show what we can do. It’s a first big test.”
Wenger has also looked back on the side’s poor start to the season, and believes that the qualifying fixtures against Udinese had an adverse effect on the side’s domestic form.
“The Champions League qualifiers had a big impact on our Premier League performances.
“I think we were disturbed by two things – the players who were not with us (Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri) and the two Udinese games had an impact on our games against Liverpool and United,” he concluded.
Arsenal have been drawn in a difficult group, as along with the Dortmund the Emirates outfit must face Marseille and Olympiakos.
[divider]
Fancy a Premier League Box Experience? Click on banner below to find out more
[divider]