Per Mertesacker wants to go out with a bang in his final season at Arsenal with full-time academy manager position in pipeline
German will take over the club's youth team structure next season but wants to get one final hoorah with Arsene Wenger's team
PER MERTESACKER wants to go out with a bang in his final season at Arsenal.
The Gunners skipper has been appointed academy manager but will play for a year before hanging up his boots.
He said: “I am now preparing for my last season and want to enjoy my last season as much as I can then we can speak about the next season and a new role without being a player.
“I am very excited about this season, to finish my career well and start off after I bid farewell.
“The decision on whether to top was difficult. I was fortunate to play for 15 years and could make my own decision which is something I wanted.
“When Arsenal had the idea I was up for it. To stop playing at the highest level is good for me. Even if I could have gone somewhere else or gone to Germany for a couple of seasons.
“I’m looking forward to my new role staying in football. Those were the kind of things that convinced myself.
“My family is happy in London. What comes with that role we will define that in the next year.”
Mertesacker suffered an injury nightmare last season but his first start of the season was the FA Cup final win against Chelsea.
He said: “I could not believe quite that I have got a game in me like that. Looking back it was a fairytale ending to the season.
“Now I am trying to do everything I can to better and get another chance to start off well and not be injured – that is my target.”
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After helping win the cup, he was then appointed in his new role.
He added: “I felt a lot of pride.
“It shows that the club believes in me, not only as a player but they also see me to develop young players – that’s why I am very happy and privileged to take over from next season.
“That was my first decision to stop playing, to realise to stop after good and very long career.
“I enjoyed always being vocal to young players in training. I never saw myself as a coach. To gain experience will be key to my next chapter.
“Once Arsenal had the idea I slowly started to think about my purpose after playing.”
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