Judge me at the end of the season – Mertesacker

Arsenal center-back Per Mertesacker believes he should be judged as a Premier League player based on a full season in England, rather than just the first few months.

The 27-year-old defender joined the Gunners on the final day of the summer transfer window from Werder Bremen, and since his debut against Swansea in September, has continued to feature in Arsene Wenger’s team.

The Germany international’s arrival at the Emirates, coupled with the return of Thomas Vermaelen, has had a notable impact on Arsenal’s form of late, and Mertesacker believes he is improving with every game.

“I’m feeling good and I think that’s the best thing,” Mertesacker told Arsenal Player. “It was quite a short time for me to settle in and make the transfer happen, it was very close to the deadline so it was a tough month for me.

“I think in England the best players in the world are here. They have a lot of strength, a lot of speed, it doesn’t compare to the Bundesliga. The technical ability is similar but the speed and the physical power is different.

“If you have no pre-season with the team then that makes it more difficult. People think it’s easy to connect with your club, your teammates, but it takes time.

“It’s getting better and better and hopefully I can keep improving now. Let me play a season and you can get the full picture of my personality and my ability as a footballer.”

Mertesacker has also maintained an excellent disciplinary record, which has seen him yellow carded just once in 16 appearances for his new club.

The German insists his desire to win the ball, combined with his calm temperament at set-pieces, has resulted in his positive behavior on the field.

“Set-pieces are very dangerous in the modern game,” he added. “They can make the difference in the game and therefore you have to defend your goal the best way you can, and that’s my way. You have to be patient.

“You are always looking for the ball, that is the main thing for me. You want to win it and that’s the main reason for my record.”