Jamie Redknapp has admitted he wrote Per Mertesacker off too soon at Arsenal.
Per Mertesacker is into his third season at Arsenal, and he keeps getting better and better.
The towering German had an adjustment period during his first campaign, which was ended early by injury, but since then he has emerged as one of the Premier League’s most reliable and consistent defenders, and become an automatic pick for the Gunners.
His superb season has one of his early doubters apologising for being too quick to judge, and that’s Sky pundit Jamie Redknapp.
The former Liverpool captain told The Mail: “They (Arsenal) showed great resilience and Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker were magnificent at the back.
“I was critical of Mertesacker when he arrived in the Premier League, but I have to take my hat off to him now.
“He is so strong, great in the air and dominates strikers. He’s a proper defender and was crucial in keeping Tottenham at bay.”
It isn’t the first time Redknapp had admitted to being proved wrong by the German. Earlier in the season ahead of Arsenal’s match with Dortmund he stated:
“I think Mertesacker is going to be a weak link in every match, but he is playing like Beckenbauer at the moment.”
Perhaps the wise thing for him, and hopefully he has now realised it – Mertesacker is no weak link, in fact along with Laurent Koscielny, he forms the strongest part of Arsenal’s entire side.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
