'I was vomiting before games' - Mertesacker discusses footballers' mental health

The German has also admitted he used to vomit before games due to nerves, as he discussed the importance of understanding and talking about emotions in an interview with the Premier League.

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The ex-Gunners defender spoke to radio host and life-long Arsenal fan Roman Kemp all about struggling with mental wellbeing in football as part of World Mental Health Day.

When asked if he'd suffered himself, Mertesacker, who is currently manager of Arsenal's academy, said: "I mean, yes, seriously, you know, I've been affected.

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"You know, not only myself by rethinking 'What am I doing here?' You know, when does it all stop?

"I've been in the game for 15 years as a professional you know, and even at the start of it, I recall teammates saying that I told them that I'm going to stop [playing football] at 27 because I predicted the pressure.

"It isn't easy to take."

Mertesacker played 221 games for Arsenal, winning three FA Cups and also won the World Cup with Germany in 2014.

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But behind the trophies and impressive career, the 38-year-old said he struggled a lot with handling the mental weight of playing at the top of football and he even suffered physical side-effects.

"What is it about football that makes footballers constantly want to hide from the public? Everyone feels like it could weaken your position," he added.

He continued: "Similar to me. I was vomiting before games, just before the game started. It's crazy when you think of the amount of pressure that needs to be released.

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"I took it as part of the game, playing in front of 60,000, there is an element of pressure.

Mertesacker recognises that it's important to feel as though you can lean on teammates in tough times.

After losing his Hannover 96 teammate, the late Robert Enke, to suicide, the German always encourages players to speak out.

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And he believes that when players do start to open up on issues they face, their performances on the pitch improve, too.

"I felt comfortable when the game started and relying on my teammates. That is powerful, to say you are not being singled out," he said.

"So I think we need to make sure that we have, you know, a group of people that stand strong together, that's what we believe. That's why it's the greatest team sport that was created.

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"I think we should slowly be in a position where we open up on our feelings and make sure we let it out to be more free on the football pitch.

"Obviously there will be disappointing moments. There will be academy releases, there will be losses where we need to pick ourselves back up again.

"That will be part of it. But the conversation around it is absolutely key."