Arsenal captain Per Mertesacker has revealed he has been using yoga to help him recover from his serious knee injury.
The German has been sidelined for the Gunners since pre-season, when he suffered a knee injury in the 1-1 draw against Lens in late July, which resulted in Arsenal signing Shkodran Mustafi from Valencia as a replacement.
Mertesacker is expected to return in the new year, but the defender has given fans a glimpse into his recovery regime and revealed that yoga is aiding his efforts to reach "peak physical condition".
"Yoga has been a really important part of my rehab, helping me get back to peak physical condition! Nearly There," Mertesacker tweeted on Thursday alongside three pictures of him doing yoga with a trainer.
Meanwhile, Mertesacker revealed that his main priority away from working his way back to full fitness remains securing an extension to his current deal at Arsenal.
The defender will be out of contract at the end of the season, but told Spox recently: "A renewal with Arsenal is my absolute priority.
"But we have not made an appointment yet to discuss a new deal. Arsenal are my top priority and everything else is just speculation."
THE votes are in and have been counted — Great Britain is leaving the European Union.
But what impact will Brexit have on English football and what are the wider ramifications?
Previously only non-EU footballers required a work visa based on the number of times they have played for their country to be able to compete in Premier League.
But now that’s all set to change.
The new ruling puts European players on the same footing as Australians, Asians, Africans and South Americans, who must satisfy authorities that they’re of a suitable calibre via the number of internationals played.
Some of the players who wouldn’t have qualified to play in England last season include key players from Leicester’s Premier League champions, such as NGolo Kante and Riyad Mahrez.
While West Ham’s star signing and one of the best players at Euro 2016, Dimitri Payet, would have also have been denied his move from France.
Going back further in Premier League history, icons like Thierry Henry and Cristiano Ronaldo wouldn’t have played enough times for France and Portugal respectively to move to England when they did.
Before the vote, top football figures such as David Beckham, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, his club’s defender Per Mertesacker and even Ireland rugby international Tommy Bowe all backed the ‘remain’ campaign.
Beckham even released a statement on Tuesday calling on England to stay in the EU.
“We live in a vibrant and connected world where together as a people we are strong,” it said. “For our children and their children, we should be facing the problems of the world together and not alone.”
While the Premier League’s chief executive, Richard Scudamore went as far as to pledge the support of all his member clubs to the “remain’ campaign.
However, some believe it will be a good thing for English football because it will mean more opportunities for homegrown talent, although the cost of signing them will undoubtedly go up.
Football agent Sky Andrew told ESPN. “Whatever new regulations are brought in following a British EU exit, one thing for sure is that top British players would become more expensive.
“It could be as much as 40 per cent because the football market is all about demand; that’s what dictates transfer fees. There will be fewer European players for clubs to choose from as many may not meet the criteria to play in the Premier League.
“British players are already overpriced and this will only get worse because they will be in greater demand.”
Barry Silkman, a high-profile British agent, claimed that the impending Brexit vote had already had an impact, causing the current transfer market to stagnate.
“You usually get some big deals being negotiated around this time, which are never made public,” he said. “If Britain leaves the EU the cost of domestic players would increase and that’s led to a lot of uncertainty among agents because nobody is quite sure at the moment on the final value of a player.”
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However, a contrasting point of view came from Dr Gregory Ioannidis, a sports law specialist at Sheffield Hallam University, who said any new regulations is unlikely to unduly impact the Premier League.
“The EU already recognises the special nature of sport and will probably accept a more flexible approach to the movement of European players,” Ioannidis said.
“It already has a number of specific agreements in place with non-EU states and I do not see why Britain would not be able to negotiate in similar fashion. Brexit will not necessarily be damaging for Premier League football.”
Meanwhile, Brexit and the resulting resignation of British PM David Cameron caused several British sports stars to take to social media.
Per Mertesacker has revealed that Arsene Wenger instructed Arsenal to start at “full intensity” against Manchester United last weekend, as they scored all three goals in their 3-0 win in the opening 20 minutes, as reported by the club’s official website.
The Gunners blitzed United at the start of the game, racing into a two-goal lead after just seven minutes thanks to strikes from Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil.
The Chile international doubled his tally after 20 minutes with a sweet strike, as the North Londoners bounced back brilliantly from their Champions League disappointment just days earlier.
Arsenal were beaten 3-2 at the Emirates by Olympiacos last Tuesday, leaving them bottom of their Champions League group with no points from two games. Wenger’s side will next face a double header against Bayern Munich.
The bleak atmosphere around North London was palpable following that game, but it all changed on Sunday.
Per Mertesacker has won 88% of his headed duels in the Premier League this season.
The Gunners looked lethargic against the Greek giants, but Mertesacker has revealed that Wenger made sure that wasn’t the case against Louis van Gaal’s men.
The 31-year-old said: “[We were told to] do what we are best at and to go at full intensity, especially at home. Have no regrets and to focus on our job which is to have good possession in the final third, and play with tempo and speed.
“It worked completely because we gave everything from the start without any hesitation and that is what makes people happy, seeing us play in that way.”
Mertesacker has had a stop-start season thus far, missing four of Arsenal’s opening eight Premier League games, including the 2-0 defeat against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last month.
In his four appearances, the World Cup winner has won 85% of his average duels, averaging 10 defensive actions-per-game and has recorded an average pass accuracy of 89%.
Mertesacker’s defensive actions this term.
The victory over United lifted Arsenal into second place on 16 points, just two adrift of leaders Manchester City, who regained their lead at the top of the table thanks to their thumping 6-1 win over Newcastle last weekend.
Next up for the Gunners following the international break is an away clash against Watford next weekend.
