Speaking to the press while away on German international duty, Arsenal’s BFG seemed in great spirits, cracking jokes that the German press seemed to love but because Google translate is absolutely useless I don’t get at all.  The article which ran in Gelnhauser Tageblatt spoke about Per’s frustrations with injury, about fighting to get back to fitness in time for the Euro’s only to spend it on the bench as well how he’s feeling getting a regular run of games at Arsenal.

Talking to the press from a former cowshed (is this Google or true?) just outside Hanover in the town of Barsinghausen, Mertesacker, a native of Hanover and clearly glad to be getting ready to play at the club where his professional football career began, said about being on the bench during the European Championships

The road to Barsinghausen is not that far, it can be travelled by bicycle.

For me, of course, it was a special experience because I could feel again how other players have felt.

I’ve drawn a lot of motivation from the time.

He then went on to talk about how he wanted to transform those times in to ‘positive energy.’

Oliver Bierhoff added about Mertesacker

One got the feeling that it has bubbled in him [being on the bench at the Euro’s]

Mertesacker continued about his time at Arsenal

Finally I can play again, this is very simple. I can finally run again. It’s [the win over Liverpool] is a good start, everything else you have to see.

Then asked about playing in the Premier League, Champions League and for the national team he said

I want to be everywhere.