Per Mertesacker says he would rather avoid the 'burden' of playing for Arsenal againPer Mertesacker says professional football has been a mental and physicalArsenal defender Per Mertesacker says he would rather not play for Arsenal again because of the physical and mental "burden" professional football brings with it. The World Cup winner is set to become Arsenal's new academy manager for the 2018/19 season. Arsenal vs Watford Live onThe Germany international says he wants to hang up his boots and 'feel free'. Mertesacker made his last Arsenal appearance in the FA Cup third-round loss to Nottingham Forest in January"Some days you realise everything is a burden, both physically and mentally but you have to deliver without a doubt. The 33-year-old revealed the some of worst moments of his career came during the 2006 World Cup, when the centre-back was just 21.

Source: Sky sports March 11, 2018 10:41 UTC