Key Arsenal figure claims he’s ‘very, very happy’ despite links with huge move after World Cup

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Per Mertesacker wants to stay at Arsenal despite rumours linking him with a move to join the German FA after their World Cup exit.

Arsenal tend to like bringing back former players into key roles.

Former midfielder Edu is back as sporting director whilst Jack Wilshere returned to the club as a youth coach, as did Adam Birchall.

Then there is Per Mertesacker, who joined up with the Arsenal academy setup back in 2018.

The German took on the role of academy manager following his retirement and is now very highly rated in the Gunners setup.

Per Mertesacker wants to stay at Arsenal

Mertesacker is helping bring through the next generation of Arsenal stars and played a role in the rise of Bukayo Saka.

That kind of involvement isn’t going to go unnoticed and there have been links with a shock move.

Oliver Bierhoff has resigned from his position as technical director of the DFB, Germany’s Football Association.

Bierhoff has decided to go after witnessing Germany crashing out of the group stage at their second consecutive World Cup.

Manager Hansi Flick is staying put but the DFB must now find a new technical director for the push towards Euro 2024.

Sky Germany reported just a few days ago that Mertesacker was one of the candidates for the job, alongside former Aston Villa midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger.

That would be an enormous blow for Arsenal but Merrtesacker has now moved to calm some of the fears about a potential exit.

Mertesacker has told Sportbuzzer in Germany that nobody from the DFB has contacted him and he is ‘very, very happy in London’, both in terms of his job and with how his family is settled.

Mertesacker didn’t rule out a future job with the DFB but is seemingly planning to stay at Arsenal for a while yet.

“No one has spoken to me after Bierhoff’s exit. You also have to know that I’m very, very happy in London – family and professionally,” said Mertesacker.

“You have to ask the question to the DFB, how should it go on, which people you contact now. That’s why I’m waiting for now. I don’t like to speculate,” he added.

Arsenal will hope to keep the 38-year-old for a while yet but until the DFB appoint Bierhoff’s replacement, there may be some lingering fear in North London.