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Per Mertesacker is Arsenal’s weak link

By Rucker Haringey

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 24: Arsenal's Per Mertesacker walks off the pitch after his red card during the Barclays Premier League match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Emirates Stadium on January 24, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 24: Arsenal's Per Mertesacker walks off the pitch after his red card during the Barclays Premier League match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Emirates Stadium on January 24, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images) /
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Per Mertesacker might cost Arsenal the Premier League title

Arsenal are the odds-on favorites to win the Premier League but they are far from invincible. If they aren’t able to capture English football’s biggest prize it may very well come down to the failings of centre back Per Mertesacker.

It isn’t that Mertesacker is a bad player. In fact, he is still an above average Premier League central defender. The trouble is that his performance this season has been significantly off the pace set by the rest of the Arsenal squad.

His Whoscored.com player average of 6.82 ranks 13th on the Gunner squad and he is the only regular starter who sports an average below 7. The evidence of his weakness isn’t just based on statistics though. It’s easy to see when you watch Arsenal play against an upper-echelon Premier League attack.

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This also isn’t an overreaction to his recent red card against Diego Costa. While that miscue is certainly a symptom of what makes Mertesacker the club’s weak link it isn’t the sole reason for this conclusion.

The German defender simply lacks the raw athleticism to compete with the best attackers in the Premier League. He’s got an excellent mind for the game and that allows him to partially cover these deficiencies, but it shows up against the best opponents.

Fortunately for Mertesacker, either his mind or his teammates are usually able to provide him cover and protection. His centre back partner, Laurent Koscielny has been one of the club’s best players with a Whoscored.com rating of 7.42. That’s good for fourth best at the club.

He’s also been the beneficiary of strong play from Arsenal’s cadre of defensive midfielders. Francis Coquelin and Santi Cazorla have also been among the club’s best performers and they keep a lot of danger away from Mertesacker. It’s when he is isolated against a dangerous attacker that he really struggles to measure up.

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Some will say that I’m nitpicking a talented Arsenal side and they are exactly right. I am seizing on one weak link in an otherwise strong team. The reason I do that is because all it takes is one mistake to make the difference between Premier League Champion and runner-up. Just ask Liverpool and Steven Gerrard.

Mertesacker’s mediocre play is the chink in the Arsenal armor. It’s really curious why the side hasn’t at least been rumored in connection with other central defenders. For all the talk of how Arsene Wenger needs to strengthen the club’s strike force, it’s the center of defense that could really use his attention.

Arsenal may be able to win the Premier League title in spite of Per Mertesacker’s shortcomings. His teammates and circumstances may cover them up with no trouble. However, if the Gunners do fall short of the ultimate prize, you can bet that the German defender will have fallen short of the necessary standard.

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