It was just the reward he needed: Arsene Wenger on Per Mertesacker's comeback
London: Over a year after Per Mertesacker's last Arsenal start, the German defender came in from the cold to inspire his side's dramatic FA Cup final victory over Chelsea on Saturday.
With his defence ravaged by injury and suspension, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger handed Mertesacker, the club captain, his first appearance in the starting line-up for 392 days.
The former Germany international responded with an imperious defensive display, providing the bedrock for Arsenal to secure a stunning 2-1 win that gave them a record 13th FA Cup title.
"Per Mertesacker for me is a fantastic example for any young professional football player," Wenger said.
"What he did today is just a consequence of an unbelievable attitude every day. He was not selected in the squad until the Everton game in the last weekend.
"He played his first game tonight. It was just the reward he needed. When he was not selected, he worked even harder. That's why I would pay a special tribute to him tonight," he said.
A serious knee injury he suffered last year led to a lengthy spell on the sidelines for Mertesacker and, when he returned to fitness, he was unable to regain his place.
The 32-year-old had played only 37 minutes all season after coming off the bench in last weekend's 3-1 win against Everton.
But the absence of Laurent Koscielny, Gabriel and Shkodran Mustafi gave Wenger no option but to end Mertesacker's exile.
His previous start had come in an unremarkable 1-0 win over Norwich City in April 2016 and throwing him back into the team for such a high-stake encounter against the Premier League champions seemed fraught with danger.
So it was against all expectations that the centre-back emerged as the towering foundation of Arsenal's Wembley triumph.
Surveying the Arsenal team-sheet before kick-off must have made encouraging viewing for Chelsea's forwards.
Fairytale
Mertesacker was playing alongside Nacho Monreal, a left-back playing as a centre-back, and 21-year-old Rob Holding, who was playing in his first major showpiece match.
Adding to the sense of potential disaster, the German admitted this week that the final would be the first time he had ever played in the three-man defence that has been Wenger's preferred formation in recent weeks.
Yet, Wenger has been loyal to Mertesacker despite his struggles, handing the World Cup-winner a new contract earlier in the campaign.
"The manager backed me up, knowing I was going to be sidelined for more than six months," Mertesacker said recently.
"Obviously I'm grateful so I want to make sure I try to give something back”, he said.
Mertesacker, now a three-time FA Cup winner, repaid the faith in spades as he threw his body into the line of fire time and again to keep Chelsea at bay.
Allaying his fears that he might not be fit enough to cope with his unexpected return, Mertesacker was immense from start to finish.
In the first half alone he made a handful of crucial interceptions and won countless headers to blunt the physical presence of Chelsea striker Diego Costa.
With Arsenal clinging to the lead given to them by Alexis Sanchez's early opener, Mertesacker made a string of key second-half blocks to deny Costa.
When Costa poached Chelsea's 76th-minute equaliser, it was Mertesacker who almost got the block in before the ball deflected in off his foot.
But Aaron Ramsey's winner moments later ensured Mertesacker would complete his fairytale return by lifting the cup in front of Arsenal's jubilant fans.
