Per Mertesacker is heading back to the scene of one of his finest games in an Arsenal shirt eager to prove it was more than just a one-off.
The club captain was perhaps Arsenal’s best performer in their 2-1 win over Chelsea in May’s FA Cup Final, his first start of a season that had begun with a serious knee injury.
Mertesacker was called upon after Arsene Wenger found himself robbed of Laurent Koscielny, Gabriel and Shkodran Mustafi. He may be called upon again with the latter two fitness doubts for Arsenal and Chelsea’s rematch in the Community Shield.
It should not be a problem for the 32-year-old, who said that holding Eden Hazard and company at bay was “quite easy”.
In Pictures | Arsenal vs Chelsea, FA Cup Final | 27/05/2017
“[The Final] was just one shot,” Mertesacker told Standard Sport. “No-one expected anything out of me. It was low key, quite easy.
“It was something I did for more than 14 years, just coming in and believing in my game. I know the trust of the player and the boss in me was huge that day.
“A lot of fans were surprised with the line-up we played [with Rob Holding and Nacho Monreal partnering Mertesacker in defence] but the way we played and the way we looked was good. But that’s easy, it’s just one game. I need to prepare so I can do that more regularly.”
The Community Shield will raise the curtain on Mertesacker’s seventh and final season as an Arsenal player, with the academy manager job waiting for him on his retirement.
For now the 32-year-old is focusing on crowning his playing career in style.
“I want to make it as enjoyable as possible,” Mertesacker said. “I enjoy being a player. I enjoy being part of this group. I want to make it a special group.
“I’m even more focused because it’s like my chance.”
