By Tony Attwood
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And so as we approach the next Champions League match, we do so with the knowledge that Per Mertesacker is to leave the Arsenal academy at the end of the season. Which can only bring sadness to us, since he has really overseen a complete re-analysis, improvement and indeed evolution of what academies are all about.
Obviously, part of the answer to what the academy is all about is bringing forth youngsters who can play for Arsenal. For where such players emerge, they not only come through without a signing-on or transfer fee, but also already know what Arsenal is all about.
Indeed, it can be said that the lack of academy players is one of the key factors that has undermined the progress of some other famous clubs. Yes, you can go on spending millions on new players, but when that happens, each new player expects to play in every game. Academy players are not only brought up in the Arsenal way of doing things, they also know that if they work hard, they can be part of a successful Premier League squad.
But even if Per’s time with the academy is just “producing first-team talent” and nothing more, then his time with the club has been a stunning success: Bukayo Saka, Ethan Nwaneri, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Max Dowman and Marli Salmon, and many more.
We can say these players have saved Arsenal millions in transfer fees, but more than that – their success has come through the club’s academy and getting to the first team, marking out Arsenal’s academy above those of other clubs.
But there is more to it than that. For where players don’t immediately make it at Arsenal, they are sold on, and in such cases, players get a percentage of the transfer fee as well as a salary most of us would give up alcohol for. Yes, we may have lost players from Iwobi and Gnabry through to Willock, and some we might regret deeply, but recent sales such as Balogun, Smith Rowe, and Nketiah have brought in the money.
Chelsea, of course, has tried to copy Arsenal’s approach, but hasn’t quite managed to get it right. Manchester City can do it because they can move players to any of the other clubs in the group, of which they are part, but as a single club entity, Arsenal appear supreme in this field. And Mertesacker has made the money clubs sit up and look, as Arsenal have done it without the group and funding facilities of Chelsea etc.
And we have to remember that these are young, ambitious players whose heads can be turned by wild and outrageous promises from elsewhere and the media’s ceaseless “Arsenal never win anything” campaign.”
But when we hear about Mertesacker, we invariably hear about his beliefs in instilling respect, humility and discipline, which in terms of bringing forth highly talented young players, is difficult but vital.
Mertesacker it seems, has asked for a break from football, and no one can begrudge that, although sadly it could well mean that the German national team or one of their giant clubs could take him on. Although he will be as aware as we all are of the non-competitive nature of the German league. At a quick count, only once in the last 13 years have Bayern Munich not won the league, which doesn’t really make for excitement.
Of course, this will also lead to comments about Arsenal not being able to keep their senior staff, given that Edu and Wilshere have also left. But a moment’s reflection on the fact that Wilshere is now with Luton Town (seventh in League One) and Edu with Nottingham Forest (17th in the Premier League), might suggest that the grass isn’t always greener.
However, we are told Mertesacker will stay at Arsenal to the end of the season, and it turns out (as everyone who knows him testifies) that he has set a new standard of behind-the-scenes behaviour at the club, which I am sure Arsenal and Arteta will want to maintain.
Mertersacdker, of course, could not be challenged: he won the World Cup after all. And he had a personality that made everyone like him. Plus, as I found out when I very rudely interrupted him deep in conversation with one of his staff to ask for his autograph, nothing was ever too much trouble. He signed my programme, smiled and thanked me for asking. You don’t get that every day.
