Per Mertesacker has revealed he should have joined Arsenal one year before he eventually arrived from Werder Bremen.
Arsenal defender adjusting to different training methods
Per Mertesacker has revealed he should have joined Arsenal one year before he eventually arrived from Werder Bremen.
The 27-year-old was drafted in by Arsene Wenger on deadline day after he abandoned his pursuit of Gary Cahill from Bolton.
But the Germany defender could have been plying his trade in the Premier League 12 months earlier if he would have been down to him.
"I only knew about Arsenal's interest three days before I moved," said Mertesacker.
"Then Arsene Wenger called my agent and said that 'perhaps you can be my man' or something like that.
One year
"I had to do what he wanted because, one year before, he asked for me and the manager of Werder Bremen didn't let me go and I wanted to.
"I had to do it very quickly but that was kind of my wish to go to the English league a couple of years ago."
He added: "It is totally different here, especially in training. There are more passing sessions every day compared to other clubs.
"There are the little things - games every four days, the Champions League as well, which is a great challenge for me and the club, and a very young team with potential."
