Per Mertesacker reveals he has Mikel Arteta to thank for his Arsenal job

The pair have a long-lasting relationship having both signed for the Gunners on transfer deadline day back on August 31, 2011.

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Mertesacker would eventually go on to replace Arteta as skipper, with the Spaniard decided to call it a day and hang up his boots in 2016.

Arteta would then take up a role in Pep Guardiola's backstaff at Manchester City, but not before a gesture for his former teammate.

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"We have traits of taking responsibility and wanting to take people with us. I felt that. When he left us, he left (then chief executive) Ivan Gazidis a note saying 'you can't lose this guy'," Mertesacker told the Evening Standard.

"In terms of 'you are losing me now, you are asking me too late' because he had promised to go to City. He told Ivan, 'you can't lose this guy. Just put him somewhere'."

Two years later Mertesacker would retire, before then taking up his role as the club's academy manager.

After the departure of Arsene Wenger, the German played a part in helping to select their new boss, revealing he put a good word in for Arteta.

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"Between him and Unai (Emery), I put a good word in for him," he said.

"Without knowing how good he was as a coach, I knew how good he was as a human being and how much I trusted him. He called me when he didn't get the job to say 'thank you, I know you put my name forward'.

"A year and a half after when he then came, and Edu came (as technical director), it felt like the right time.

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"It is a brilliant feeling that we have around this place, that we are creating. It is based on the past we had together and it is really powerful."

Arsenal's Under-18 boss Jack Wilshere was recently praised by former teammate Mertesacker, who delighted the Englishman remains at the club.

"I've been pretty impressed. I knew him from playing, but this doesn't inform you," added Mertesacker.

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"Head coach is a big job. It's not just about working on the grass and being a role model and an inspiration. It's about how you deal with staff, with all the emails, with how you delegate.

"I was probably thinking he will not make that transition but he proved me wrong in that sense."