Arsenal Transfer Rumours: Gunners Set to Swoop for Per Mertesacker

The Daily Mail cites a report in L'Equipe claiming Arsenal are on the verge of wrapping up a deal for towering German central defender Per Mertesacker.

The transfer is believed to be around £6 million, given that Mertesacker is in the final year of his contract at Werder Bremen.

Arsene Wenger has long been an admirer of Mertesacker.  The 26-year-old German international has an abundance of top-level experience and has the pedigree to solidify the Gunners' shaky defense.

Standing 6'6", Mertesacker could be the key to solving Arsenal's long-standing weakness from set pieces.  For too long now Wenger's team has been routinely victimised from corners and free kicks due to a lack of aggression in the air.

Mertesacker's lack of pace will be the biggest worry for Arsenal fans.  He can occasionally become static and appear lumbering when dragged out into space.

The relentless pace of the Premier League could regularly expose such a weakness.  It remains to be seen if Mertesacker's more methodical style will fit with Arsenal's high line tactics.

The Werder Bremen skipper is an extremely intelligent player, who will need to rely on his excellent positional awareness to compensate for the absence of genuine quickness.

It should be noted that although the back four have been considered Germany's one real weakness heading into the last two major international tournaments, the back line has rarely let the national team down when Mertesacker has played.

If Arsenal complete a move for Mertesacker it could signal the end of their drawn out pursuit of Gary Cahill.  The Bolton Wanderers talisman is a player on the rise, but Arsenal's real desire to get him has to be questioned after having spent so long weighing their options.

Despite his talents, Cahill's price tag of £17 million does seem excessive.  But the player is Premier League-tested and would not require the settling in period that Mertesacker will inevitably need.

But landing an international player with leadership qualities who is the same age as Cahill for a much more reasonable fee is still a positive move from the Gunners.

Wenger will have to hope that Mertesacker adapts quickly to the rigours of English football and becomes the reliable defensive presence Arsenal desperately need.