Why sitting on Arsenal bench in my last season was a blessing

Former Arsenal defender, Per Mertesacker in recounting his playing days at Arsenal, said he was happy sitting on the bench and not being featured.

Having retired at the end of last season after a 15-year professional career, the former Werder Bremen and Hannover player recalled how he was out of action for almost all of the 2016/17 season with a knee injury that required surgery.

He was left with no choice than to retire and was compensated by former Manager, Arsene Wenger to handle the club’s academy

He said he had felt a lot of pressure which was not good for him, making him more comfortable with just training and not seeing games

The German had obviously had enough of football and was more concerned about his health than any other thing.

It would be recalled that in March, Mertesacker told German publication, Der Spiegel, that the stress of playing induced nausea and diarrhoea.

He, therefore, stressed that playing week-in, week-out is not normal and stressful.

He said playing in front of 60,000 fans often makes him feel like throwing up but he was helpless.

Mertesacker had 104 caps for Germany and made 221 appearances for Arsenal in his seven seasons at the club.

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