The Times Sport - UK (2020-08-01)

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the times | Saturday August 1 2020 2GS 5

improved, he is solid defender, niggly,

always arguing. He has helped Granit

Xhaka improve for Arsenal, given him

confidence to spray the ball around

and would complement Kovacic in a

similar way.

mateo kovacic

(chelsea)

I just like him as a

footballer, he zips around

the field, everything he

does is one and two touch and full of

energy. He has quick feet and would

work well with Ceballos in midfield.

christian pulisic

(chelsea)

If he stays at Chelsea for

six or seven seasons we

could see him go beyond

the level that Eden Hazard reached.

After a terrific performance in the

Super Cup against Liverpool he

drifted a little — but now that he is

settled he looks like Arjen Robben in

that he can go either way or drift into

centre forward. Hazard had poor

spells and could put on weight, Pulisic

looks a better professional than that.

pierre-emerick

aubameyang

(arsenal)

I had to start him down

the middle because I

wouldn’t have him on the left ahead

of Pulisic. I have always said: if he

wants to stay at Arsenal and buy into

the system and start closing down

from the front, you have to keep him;

if he doesn’t, sell him. His goal tally

will always add up to one in two

games and now that he is working to

Mikel Arteta’s system, he looks like

one of the best forwards in the world.

Olivier Giroud is unlucky to miss out.

willian

(chelsea)

He has been made a

scapegoat over the years

at Chelsea — but he has

always had a turn of pace, scored

goals, worked his socks off for the

team and his indifferent times have

always been when the team are in a

rut. I don’t see any right-sided player

ahead of him from either team – but

Nicolas Pépé is getting close.

Rowe, Reiss Nelson, even players
like Héctor Bellerín, who have now got
leadership capabilities. They see all these players
and think, ‘If I do the right things, I have a
chance at Arsenal.’ ”
As for the potential of Saka and Nketiah,
“there’s a lot of things to learn but Mikel is
ready to offer advice and support to get them to
the next level,” Mertesacker says. “You see the

eagerness of Saka to learn. It’s just amazing to
see the feedback from first-team staff on him in
particular. He’s going everywhere, asking
questions of people who’ve been 10, 12, 15 years
at the top: ‘What are you guys doing? Why have
you been there for a long time?’ That’s not easy
for young players to go into that first-team
environment, be eager and ask role models.
That’s a strength you cannot underestimate.”
In charge of 180 players, Mertesacker relies
heavily on his 100 staff to tend their physical,

A lot of parents think their

kid is the 1 per cent that will

make it and bring financial

security. That’s pressure

technical and mental

development. “We are trying to create strong

young Gunners,” Mertesacker says. He agrees

that it is a “fine line” to balance challenging

young players to cope with the inevitable

pressure that their career will bring while being

mindful of their mental health.

Looking after the youngsters during lockdown

was a “huge challenge”, he adds. “Some have

gardens and brothers and sisters, but others are

just in a one-bedroom flat. What they love is

playing football, being in an open space, and all

of a sudden that’s gone, that freedom. They are

even in greater danger, not only on the mental

health side, safeguarding as well. All people in

the academy have done an amazing job because,

ultimately, everyone had their issues.

“A lot of kids nowadays have all the impact

of social media. They see the limelight of a

professional footballer, and being in a category-

one academy is a lot of pressure. A lot of parents

think their kid is the 1 per cent that will make it

and bring financial security for the whole

family.” That’s pressure. That’s one of many

reasons why Mertesacker’s work, and campaigns

like Heads Up, which will be highlighted on FA

Cup final day, are so vital.

6 For more information visit

HeadsTogether.org.uk/Heads-Up

Neither Giroud

nor Mount make

my combined XI

emiliano martínez

(arsenal)

The 27-year-old has

looked so assured in the

short period he has been

in goal. He is confident — he has a

huge chest and tries to catch the ball,

where most goalkeepers aim to punch

— and that has run through the team.

césar azpilicueta

(chelsea)

He is consistent,

experienced and has

been Chelsea’s best

defender for a number of years. He

reminds me of Branislav Ivanovic in

the solidity that he gives the side.

He is a terrific leader, too — not

too far behind John Terry in terms

of Chelsea greats.

rob holding

(arsenal)

Not the quickest, not by a

long stretch, but he reads

the game well and doesn’t

commit himself too often. He waits

for the attacker to make a decision,

doesn’t put his leg out or risk giving

fouls away. He is the best footballer

Arsenal have at centre back.

kurt zouma

(chelsea)

In the past few weeks he

is back to playing like he

did on loan at Everton.

He has huge potential; he is an

athlete with a big leap and has grown

into the position at Chelsea, winning

the battle to convince Frank Lampard

of his merits. He doesn’t get too much

of the ball and it suits him because it

stops him from overplaying.

antonio rüdiger

(chelsea)

A natural centre half.

Apart from West Ham

United away, where he

was all over the place, he is the type

of defender who wants to get close

and hassle opponents, in the manner

of Martin Keown. He is the kind of

defender who is always in your face

and strikers hate playing against him.

Ugly in a good way.

kieran tierney

(arsenal)

There is a lot to come

from him. He can do

every part of the wing-

back job. Everyone knew how good

he was, so much so that Arsenal took

him from Celtic even with a hernia

injury. If he stays fit, he could do that

role for five or six years for Arsenal.

dani ceballos

(arsenal)

If N’Golo Kanté was fit

he would start in this role

easily but Ceballos has

Tony Cascarino has

to make some tough

choices as he compiles

a team from talent on

offer at Wembley today

E Martínez

Arsenal

A Rüdiger

Chelsea

C Azpilicueta

Chelsea

K Zouma

Chelsea

K Tierney

Arsenal

R Holding

Arsenal

C Pulisic

Chelsea

P-E Aubameyang

Arsenal

Willian

Chelsea

M Kovacic

Chelsea

D Ceballos

Arsenal

3-4-

Tony Cascarino’s

combined

Arsenal-Chelsea XI

Mertesacker

celebrates with

the trophy after

Arsenal’s 2-

victory over

Chelsea in the

final three years

ago, savours

World Cup glory

with Germany in

2014, above, and

trains alongside

Arteta, top, with

whom he played

for five years

Nelsonevenplayers

t hnicalandmental

STUART MACFARLANE/ARSENAL FC/GETTY IMAGES