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'My move had to be messy, it had to be rushed'

Per Mertesacker
Per Mertesacker

The end of our 2011 summer transfer window has to go down as one of the most frantic in our history.

Having already completed deals for Gervinho, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Joel Campbell, Arsene Wenger moved again in the market and secured an incredible five further signings on deadline day.

 

The late flurry saw Mikel Arteta, Andre Santos, Yossi Benayoun, Ju-young Park and Per Mertesacker all through the door before the window slammed shut.


 

Speaking exclusively to our ‘In Lockdown’ podcast, Mertesacker explained his whirlwind deadline day move.

 

"I consider myself to be a panic buy," he said. "I've got no problems with that whatsoever because sometimes these times are rushed.

 

"Football is rushed, especially when the transfer window is about to close. At that time Arsenal had two or three days to make adjustments to the squad. To join an English team, my favourite English team, and to join the Premier League was something I couldn't turn down.

 

"I was with the German national team during those last three days and I had to ask Joachim Low if I could go to London and have a quick medical. In my medical, I met Santos, I became familiar with Benayoun, Arteta and Park very quickly.

 

"It had to be messy, it had to be rushed. I didn't care. I was just happy that Arsene Wenger called me and spoke to me in German. I couldn't really believe it.

 

“It was so unreal those three days, as I said. To turn down an opportunity like Arsenal Football Club? I would always do it again, in the same format, in the same rush, in the same manner."

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