Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker admits he is still having difficulty communicating with his new teammates following his deadline day move to North London.
The Germany international only joined the Gunners in the summer and is still adapting to life in England as well as coming to terms with the fact he is playing at a completely new club. The centre back is yet to settle into life in London but understands it will take time:
“I still have communication problems, but given the circumstances this was unavoidable. Due to the lateness of the transfer, I could do very little to prepare myself,” he said.
“I’ve only been gone from Germany for a month. I have not yet entirely acclimated. Sometimes it feels like an extended vacation. I’m slowly starting to get used to the fact that the centre of my life is now actually in London.
“I have called England my home since mid-September, but it still does not feel like home. I still have no house, no apartment of my own. There is a lack of anchor points, which I had had in Germany. But it takes time, that’s normal.
“I feel in good hands there [at Arsenal], the atmosphere is very pleasant, very casual. We have many new players, but I think we have adjusted to one another very quickly.”
Mertesacker has endured a tough start to life at Arsenal with the Gunners languishing in 15th in the league having conceding 16 goals and only picking up 2 wins out of 7 games.
