---
title: "Mertesacker explains why he’s so impressed by Walcott"
canonical: "https://readarsenal.com/2016/01/20/mertesacker-explains-hes-impressed-walcott/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Adam Hamdani"
section: "Arsenal News"
published: "2016-01-20T11:37:36Z"
modified: "2016-01-21T11:09:24Z"
---

# Mertesacker explains why he’s so impressed by Walcott

Arsenal defender and vice-captain Per Mertesacker has hailed Theo Walcott for his longevity at the club.

The 26-year-old has been an Arsenal player for 10 years, becoming the second longest serving under Arsene Wenger during his time at the club, seconded to only Johan Djourou.

Walcott is now the longest serving player in the current Gunners squad and Mertesacker, speaking to *Arsenal Player*, [believes that staying with the north London side for so long](https://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20160120/-theo-s-love-of-the-club-kept-him-here-?) is an ‘unbelievable achievement’.

> Twitter: Congratulations to @theowalcott, who has officially been an Arsenal player for 10 years! #afc https://t.co/HXH7y4iLc1 (@ReadArsenalFC)

> *Ten years, it’s an unbelievable achievement to play on a consistent level for such a long time in the same club. That is rare in modern football are we are happy to have him.*
>
> *I think what kept him here was the spirit of the group and his love for the club, and that is something I look up to.*
>
> *He is a role model to a lot of young people, and he plays a major role now and that’s what he likes to play for us, being much more experienced than when he came.*
>
> *He looks different as well… it is amazing to see such a player play for us.*

Walcott joined Arsenal at the tender age of 16-years-old and has gone on to make 326 appearances, scoring 81 times and assisting his teammates on 78 occasions.

With his peak years only just arriving, Wenger, who brought the England international to the Gunners, [believes that Walcott has improved in so many areas](https://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20160115/wenger-the-first-time-i-watched-theo), highlighting his finishing.

![Clive Rose/Getty Images Sport](https://cdn.readeverything.co/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/487879192.jpg)

> *Theo is very intelligent.*
>
> *He always had pace and his movement off the ball was always perfect.*
>
> *I think he is much more conscious of teamwork and he has improved as well in his finishing. He is absolutely deadly compared to 10 years ago. He needed many chances to score a goal and today he can finish very well. His final ball and his technique are much better.*
>
> *Ten years here, that shows as well that he loves Arsenal and I’m convinced he will give us much more in the next five years than the last five because he is a player who is always moving forward and trying to do better. He has a very positive attitude.*

Walcott will play a key role in how Arsenal’s season finishes, with the north London side facing their best opportunity in 10 years of Premier League triumph.