Arsenal's Rock: Why Per Mertesacker Deserves More Praise For His Performances This Season

The reason for Arsenal's success this season has been founded on many things. The arrival of Mesut Ozil, the goals of Olivier Giroud and the blistering form of Wales international Aaron Ramsey are just three. And while most point towards the attacking fluidity that the Gunners have displayed this season, I would suggest that Per Mertesacker deserves the plaudits.

Some say offense is the best means of attack, but when you have a centre-half as talented as the Germany international then you can afford to let teams come at you a little bit.

Mertesacker has followed last season's form with even stronger performances, and although those around him in the backline have all fallen short at one point or another during the season, Mertesacker has stood tall throughout.

This season he has racked up 19 league appearances and averaged eight defensive actions per game in those outings. Only Laurent Koscielny has averaged more, but no defender can come close to his 66% duel success.

The giant defender has won 53 of his 76 headers this season, which is 70%, and 20 of his 36 tackles (56%).

What is so impressive about the 29-year-old though, is that although he is a combative player who loves to get into the thick of things, when he is on the ball he injects so much composure into his colleagues and brings others into play. He has completed 92% of his passes this season.

Without Mertesacker there is no doubt in my mind that Arsenal would be looking up at top spot rather than down from it, and I think some spectators need to give him more praise than he has been getting.