Mertesacker admits that he was a panic buy

Arsenal

faced

at the summer of 2011. Arsenal got hammered and conceded a 8-2 defeat at Manchester. It didn't took much time for

Arsene Wenger

, former French manager of

Arsenal

to realize that they are lacking something at the back.

In order to fix the problem Wenger brought the tall German defender, Per Mertesacker. Mertesacker, who is now in charge of the club’s academy system, is, however, prepared to concede that he was a “messy” signing that may not have happened in different circumstances.

He told

Arsenal

’s Lockdown Podcast: “I consider myself to be a panic buy. I've got no problems with that whatsoever because sometimes these times are rushed.

“Football is rushed, especially when the transfer window is about to close. At that time Arsenal had two or three days to make adjustments to the squad. To join an English team, my favourite English team, and to join the

Premier League

was something I couldn't turn down.

“I was with the German national team during those last three days and I had to ask Joachim Low if I could go to London and have a quick medical. In my medical, I met [Andre] Santos, I became familiar with [Yossi]

Benayoun

, [Mikel]

Arteta

and Park [Chu-young] very quickly.

“It had to be messy, it had to be rushed. I didn't care. I was just happy that Arsene Wenger called me and spoke to me in German. I couldn't really believe it.

“It was so unreal those three days, as I said. To turn down an opportunity like Arsenal Football Club? I would always do it again, in the same format, in the same rush, in the same manner.”