Arsenal centre-back review: Still room for Vermaelen?

Per Mertesacker: C+

Per Mertesacker

• Rating: 6.92
• Appearances: 33 (1)
• Tackles per game: 1
• Interceptions per game: 1.5
• Clearances per game: 5.1
• Clean sheets: 16
• 22W, 9D, 9L

I have to admit that I’m still not sold on Mertesacker. I do believe him to be a very good player, but it’s perhaps telling that his rating is only 0.08 points higher than Vermaelen; he is lauded as being among the Premier League’s best centre-backs while Vermaelen is lampooned. Take away one Vermaelen error, and we might be having a very different discussion. I’ll say one thing for Mertesacker that I can’t say for Vermaelen: he does know his limits and does his best to play within them.

He does make up for his lack of pace (and let’s be frank: “lack” is a gentle word to use) with astute positioning. However, there are times when even this is not enough, as when Sagna gifted a pass to van Persie at the Emirates. Mertesacker tracked back, but did so by back-pedalling towards the centre of the penalty area, which forced Sagna to recover but having to tackle van Persie from 6-8 yards from the goal box. Had Mertesacker applied more-direct pressure to van Persie, Sagna may not have had to act to rashly.

This is just one example, of course, but it is representative of the larger issue: Mertesacker does not have the pace to deal with counter-attacks. This of course makes for a poor partnership with Vermaelen, who tends to press too far forward, but it also inhibits the ability of Koscielny or of the left and right backs to join the attack. I respect his solidity and intelligence for the game, but I worry that this limitation is one that will ultimately cost the team more than it has to this point. Further, it’s an issue that will only grow over time.

He’s 28, and it’s unlikely that he’ll somehow get faster with age. I’m not willing to go so far as to suggest that Arsenal look to sell him this summer, but tough questions and their answers rarely get easier over time. Let’s not forget that he’s committed a few errors himself, such as his take-down against West Brom that led to a goal.

He’s a nice player and has done well for the club, so I apologize for the shabby treatment I’ve given him. However, it’s my doubts regarding Mertesacker more than my doubts regarding Vermaelen that I find myself wondering about signing another centre-back.