Per Mertesacker steps up Arsenal academy role as retirement looms large
World Cup winner has already begun linking up with young sides in Gunners set up and will ramp up work with teams as the end of his playing career approaches
PEP MERTESACKER has stepped up his work with the Arsenal academy as the end of his playing career approaches.
Gunners defender Mertesacker will retire from playing at the end of the season at the end of an illustrious career for club and country.
The World Cup winner is hanging up his boots at the age of 33 to take up a role as the Head of Academy at Arsenal.
And the centre back has wasted little time in getting down to business by devoting much of his time to his new job even though there is still three months of the season left.
SunSport understands the 6ft 6in defender is already a frequent visitor to the club's Hale End training centre for their schoolboy and academy sides.
Mertesacker has made a point of introducing himself to everyone involved and already begun a series of planning meetings with coaches.
On days off from first team training, the Germany star has decided to put in extra hours getting up to speed with all the teams he will oversee.
And it is believed he will step up the work even further over the coming weeks to make sure he is fully up to speed by the time his job starts for real in June.
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Mertesacker's new role is seen as a progressive step at the Emirates to help develop budding new talent at the club.
He is seen as the ideal man to provide a bridge between the academy and professional set up at the North London club.
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His appointment is similar to steps taken at some of Arsenal's London rivals which has seen former first team players drop down to help with the youngsters.
At Chelsea, ex-midfielder Jody Morris began coaching the under-16s side, since being elevated to under-18s coach and leading the club to become a dominant force in academy football.
Several players have cited the fact Morris was a bridge to the first team set-up as valuable in helping with their development at the club.
And Tottenham have also followed suit with former midfielder Scott Parker beginning work with the academy at the start of this season.
Steven Gerrard has taken similar steps on his coaching career, opting to link up with the Liverpool academy to learn the ropes and help develop the club's young players.