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‘Best thing to happen to this club since Wenger left’: Some Arsenal fans erupt over club’s Wednesday post

Giuseppe Labellarte

Wed 29 September 2021 18:45, UK

A number of Arsenal fans have wished Per Mertesacker a happy birthday and praised him for his efforts as academy manager.

The retired Gunners defender, who turned 37 on Wednesday, has been in his role since he retired from playing in 2018.

Mertesacker has overseen the likes of Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe successfully make the step up from the academy to the first team.

The Hale End academy has a number of incredible talents who look capable of making the step up to senior level.

The likes of Arthur Okonkwo, Folarin Balogun, Daniel Ballard, Karl Hein, Charlie Patino, Catalin Cirjan, Joel Ideho, Nikolaj Moller and Kido Taylor-Hart have all been tipped for success.

Although it’s not been plain sailing at Arsenal in recent years, the academy has done very well overall, and as the man overseeing it, Mertesacker deserves credit.

Arsenal wished him a happy birthday on their Twitter feed:

And plenty of Arsenal fans lauded him with praise and well-wishes:

Best thing to happen to this club since Wenger left. Amazing person, amazing job he has been doing behind the scenes.

— P™ (@SemperFiArsenal)

I hope we can see a lot of youngsters coming up the ranks. The future looks exciting

— ♚ Kris ☆♚ 🇮🇳 (@Santi_Classorla)

Yes very happy birthday Per..such asset for the club…. Loving the academy and developmental work!

— Ian (@anarsenalchap)

One the best personality at Arsenal today..big man behind how our academy is shaping up now. Best memory for me was the cup final, everyone questioned his selection but man,what a performance that day to lift the cup.Crazy as you would expect but always positive, never complained

— Sir Aaron Ramsdale (@49__undefeated)

Happy birthday Per 🎂
Best thing that happened in recent times. Our Academy manager.

— Arsenal Maldives (@afcmaldives)

Happy birthday BFG. A person with a great vision doing admirable work in the club. The next big guy after Arsene. Thanks for making good things happen 🙏✨

— Prasan_IR (@prasanir)

Biggest blessing we have at the club HBD big man 🥳🇩🇪

— 𝕋𝕠𝕓𝕪  🦊 (@NotMyManager)

what a guy keep continuing the good work in the academy hopefully

— Arun Munagala (@arun_munagala)

Happy birthday, Per. Thank you for all you’re doing and have done, for the club 🙏🏾

— Adlibs (@brwnbeardgooner)

Mertesacker joined Arsenal in the summer of 2011 from Werder Bremen, and he made upwards of 150 appearances for the Gunners.

The 6ft 6in ace won three FA Cups and two Community Shields with Arsenal, and with Germany, he lifted the 2014 World Cup.