Academy Manager Per Mertesacker Reveals Why Arsenal Are Sending Players To The Bundesliga

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Arsenal’s Academy Manager Per Mertesacker has revealed why the club is sending so many young players on loan deals to the Bundesliga (via Werder.de).

It’s a growing trend in football as rising English footballers leave the country at a young age to head to Germany and the Bundesliga.

This new trend really started with the one-time Arsenal target Jadon Sancho’s move to Borussia Dortmund but since then, a number of Gunners players have followed suit.

Reiss Nelson and Emile Smith Rowe have both headed to Germany on loan deals, something which Arsenal’s Academy Manager, Per Mertesacker has spoken about.

“In Germany, you are challenged in the regional league or even better in the 3rd league,” Mertesacker said in an interview back at his former club, Werder Bremen.

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“At our Under-23s you will be introduced to the men’s area as well as in Bremen. However, you play only against peers at an average age of 18 or 19 years. Although you have good opponents with us, matches with men’s teams do not exist.

“Therefore, the step from our U23 into the first team is even bigger, because the next higher level is the Premier League. Therefore, for us from Arsenal also loans are very attractive, for example in the Bundesliga.”

It’s an interesting series of quotes from Per Mertesacker. First-team football is a big difference-maker for young players who wouldn’t be given an opportunity in England. Reiss Nelson’s form has dipped at Hoffenheim but he has already a gained a grew deal of experience at the German side.