Per Mertesacker is set to retire this summer. The Arsenal captain has been at the club for seven years and recently revealed he suffers with anxiety from playing football in an interview with Spiegel.
The pressure got to a stage where the German used to "choke so violently until my eyes tear." However, a portion of that interview did not endear him to former Liverpool and German footballer Dietmar Hamann: 'He makes another statement that is questionable for me.'
Speaking on Sky Sports Germany, Hamann accused the Arsenal centre-half of disrespecting the club.
He is still under contract with Arsenal and says that he has no more buck and likes to sit in the stands. He is still paid by the club and has a responsibility. I find that disrespectful to the fans, his team-mates and the coach. The club is up to its neck at the moment and then you have one of the captains who sits down and says that he no longer wants to play for the club.
Whether he is the right person to give young players values such as identity and loyalty next year, I have my doubts.
Mertesacker is set to take over with the club's academy after he retires as manager.
