Arsenal legend Tony Adams has admitted that he is excited by how good a central defensive partnership Per Mertesacker could form with Thomas Vermaelen at the Emirates.

 

Adams knows all about what it takes to succeed in the centre of the Gunners’ defence and rates summer signing Mertesacker very highly, even though the German has only spent half a season in the cut and thrust of English football.

 

And Adams, who made 669 appearances spanning 19 years at Arsenal, has backed the giant defender.

 

"I’ve seen Per Mertesacker a few times now, he interests me and I think is a good player", Adams told the Gunners’ official website.

 

"I think he is very intelligent and he knows how to play in central defence.

 

"I’m really looking forward to seeing more of him because I don’t think Thomas Vermaelen has actually played enough with him just yet.

 

"But they could be a fantastic central defensive partnership and would certainly excite me."

 

And Adams can see parallels in the giant Mertesacker and Belgian Vermaelen and his own successful partnerships.

 

"It’d be like going back to the days of Adams, [Steve] Bould, [Martin] Keown maybe."

 

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