Former Arsenal skipper Per Mertesacker has named just two Gunners stars in his all-time best XI.

The 2014 World Cup winner was asked to pick the best XI players he played with during his lengthy and hugely successful career.

Mertesacker, 34, opted for the Arsenal duo of Laurent Koscielny and Mesut Ozil in his lineup.

Current Arsenal captain Koscielny and Mertesacker were the Gunners’ centre-back partnership for several years.

Both players were fundamental to Arsenal’s recent run of three FA Cup titles in four years.

Mesut Ozil and Per Mertesacker were part of the German squad that won a fourth title at the 2014 World Cup tournament in Brazil.

Mertesacker joined Arsenal from German Bundesliga giants Werder Bremen in 2012 and went on to spend six years before calling time on his football career at the end of last season.

Before announcing his retirement, he was named the Arsenal Academy coach as from the 2018/19 season.

Arsenal have not really missed his influence on the first team as the North Londoners have started the new campaign in fine form with nine wins from the eleven games played this season

Per Mertesacker Best XI: Robert Enke; Clemens Fritz, Philipp Lahm, Laurent Koscielny, Naldo; Hanno Balitsch, Torsten Frings, Diego, Mesut Ozil; Miroslav Klose, Claudio Pizarro.

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Liverpool defender Joe Gomez has been tipped to get a starting role in England’s UEFA Nations League encounter against Spain on Monday.

The clash will be a return leg of the 2-1 defeat the Gareth Southgate led team suffered in the hands of the Spanish side.

The young defender who has been praised and tipped to become one of England’s best will replace John Stones who has been suspended. He will see his fifth cap for the Three Lions on Monday.

Stones and Jordan Henderson will be serving a match suspension having received their second yellow cards in Friday’s 0-0 draw at Croatia

Although, Southgate, for reasons unknown refused to name the replacement for Henderson in his press interview on Sunday.

According to the England national team, Gomez has been in fine form for the Merseyside club and that has earned him a starting role in most Liverpool games this season.

Describing him as a young defender, Southgate noted that Gomez has got good tactics and athleticism.

However, he will have the opportunity to prove the talent he is and also help his English side secure at least, a point in Spain.

Southgate has predicted a difficult game for his as he hopes to strengthen his midfield.

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Arsenal captain Laurent Koscielny has announced his retirement from international football in a controversial manner.

The 33-year-old confirmed his decision to retire from the French national team on Sunday evening as he criticised manager Didier Deschamps for the way he was treated while recovering from a long injury layoff.

Laurent Koscielny recently returned to light training at Arsenal from the Achilles tendon injury he sustained during the Europa League semi-final second leg clash with Spanish La Liga giants Atletico Madrid in May.

The injury forced him to miss this summer’s FIFA World Cup tournament in Russia.

His French team emerged as champions after a second title triumph via a 4-2 victory over Croatia in their final clash.

Since making his debut in 2011, Laurent Koscielny has featured for France on 51 occasions and also represented Les Blues at three major tournaments namely the 2012 European Championship, 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 European Championship.

His last appearance for France came in March 2018 when the French team defeated Russia 3-1 in an international friendly.

Without Laurent Koscielny in the Arsenal team, retired Czech Republic shot-stopper Petr Cech has captained the team under the new managerial reign of Spanish tactician Unai Emery.

The Gunners are expected to welcome Koscielny back to full training by next month.

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Manchester United legend Gary Neville has hinted that he is becoming more convinced that Liverpool have a chance of winning the Premier League this season.

This is after the former player turned pundit stated that the Reds are showing traits that gives them the shape as potential winners.

Manager Jurgen Klopp has made frantic efforts to ensure the issues in the club are solved with the recruit of defender Virgil van Dijk from Southampton in the last January transfer window and also Brazilian number one Alisson Becker from AS Roma to solve the goalkeeping crisis.

However, Neville is of the opinion that the Reds team now look to be in good shape and compact enough to win a title.

According to the United legend, a champion is known to pick up points even when he is not playing well and that is what Liverpool have done so far in the Premier League especially with Klopp’s three attackers looking blunt at the moment.

The likes of Mohamed Salah who was the Premier League highest goal scorer, Saido Mane and Firmino are not in good form at the moment.

The Anfield side are 3rd on the log with 20 points after 8 games in this current campaign.

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