Arsenal Transfer News: 5 Reasons Per Mertesacker Can Save the Gunners

Arsene Wenger has seen the fire lit underneath his seat since the debacle at Old Trafford on Sunday.

In turn, he has sought after any possible prospect to improve his team before the transfer window closes.

One of his targets, who is reportedly close to officially joining the Gunners, is German international Per Mertesacker.

Thankfully, this option is a definite upgrade in a necessary area, and one wonders why it did not happen sooner.

The soon-to-be former Werder Bremen player had one year left on his contract, and Werder Bremen have been looking for suitors for the want-away star for almost the whole summer.

Include a relatively cheap price tag into the mix, and Wenger's hesitancy on this transfer is baffling.

Fortunately he is soon-to-be a Gunner, and here are five reasons why he can save the Gunners.

Experience

Unlike many of the other options that Arsene Wenger has sought, Per Mertesacker has a wealth of European and International experience.

He has played 53 games in all European competitions, while the other options have close to zero between the lot of them.

Internationally, he has played in two World Cups and the European Championships and has played 76 games for the German team.

Such experience is much needed in the Arsenal defense, and the fact that he has not played in the Premier League should not be a deciding factor as to whether he will be good or not.

Organization

With such experience, there will come a great deal of much-needed attributes, and organization is one of them.

He is German after all.

Of course I do not know for sure that Mertesacker is the key organizer in both Werder Bremen and the German national team, but it is highly likely that is the case.

Critics will continue to point to his lack of pace and a perceived lack of physicality as problematic but his organizational skills will only help.

Alongside Thomas Vermaelen in the center, Mertesacker will be able to provide the leadership and organization that was severely missing at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Composure

Not to say that I have watched a lot of Bundesliga games in my lifetime but from what I have seen, internationally and in Europe, Per Mertesacker looks a composed figure.

Of course all defenders are capable of mistakes and doing the unusual on occasion, but Mertesacker is a key member of well-marshaled German defense, and his composure is surely a significant component of that.

He will also have more help on the club level this time around, if he does find himself  in a sticky situation.

Height on Both Ends

Height alone will not do, that is true.

However, Mertesacker's height is sure to be more than useful for the Gunners in both defense and offense.

On defense the Gunners have been a team lacking great height in recent years, and their zonal marking approach may negate the German's lack of pace and allow him to be effective on the defensive end.

He has scored in double digits at club level and, while nearly not as much on the International stage, he can carry that aspect of his game to North London.

With the likes of Robin Van Persie providing service on corners, or dangerous set-pieces, Mertesacker will have his share of chances to bulge the back of the net.

He Is Better Than Djourou and Koscielny

Regardless of any negative factor that critics might point to about this signing, one fact remains.

He is clearly a better player than Johan Djourou and Laurent Koscielny.

I am sure a lot of Gunner fans will be a lot more optimistic seeing the tall German lineup next to Thomas Vermaelen for the remainder of the season.

For all the previous points mentioned, and the fact that he will have enough pace around him to cover for his one real visible weakness, Mertesacker is surely an upgrade on these two.