The Gunners defender is struggling this season, following a short holiday after the World Cup in Brazil.
Arsenal centre-back Per Mertesacker has revealed his disappointment at Arsenal’s start to the season, and blamed his own poor performances on a lack of motivation following Germany’s World Cup win.
Arsenal needed two late goals to beat Anderlecht, and Mertesacker told the Daily Mail that the club know that their performances are’t good enough:
“Our passing game is not as efficient as last year. We are not at our best. We have to admit that, be honest with ourselves and train harder.”
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The defender was at fault for Hull’s second goal on Saturday. His lack of pace made him afraid of getting too tight to Abel Hernandez, who peeled off the back of him and then beat the 6’7 defender in the air. Mertesacker claims that he is struggling for motivation following the World Cup in Brazil, where he was a member of the Germany team that won the trophy.
“Personally it is difficult at the moment because that was really a long season last year and to come back from that World Cup and get the motivation back… I am nearly back, but you can feel there is something missing at the moment.”
Arsenal lie seventh in the Premier League table, with just two points from their last four games.
With their side needing last minute goals in both of their most recent games, Arsenal fans will be happy to hear that Mertesacker is “almost back”- with their defensive injury crisis showing no signs of abating, the last thing they need is their senior centre-back continuing to go missing.