Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker is determined to become one of the most important defenders for the Gunners.

Speaking to Arsenal Player and asked if he can fill the shoes of the likes of Sol Campbell and Kolo Toure, the Germany International confessed that he did follow all the players who played in the defensive department for Arsenal over the last few years adding that his objective is to improve and be as useful as the three were when at the Club.

Confessing that he had no “idols” as a child, the 27-year old revealed that he always admired the English Premier League, for the great stadiums and for the strong teams.

Mertesacker concluded by saying that at Arsenal he will surely learn a lot from other players with the tall defender doing well alongside Laurent Koscielny, during the absence of vice-captain Thomas Vermaelen.

On Arsenal, the German said:

[If I can fill the shoes of the likes of Sol Campbell and Kolo Toure?] Tony Adams, as well! I like those players very much.

I enjoyed them throughout the years and I hope I can improve my performance and be useful for the team.

[My biggest inspiration in football?] It’s quite hard because I wasn’t the talent that I can dream about to be a professional and therefore it was kind of a hobby for me to perform football.

It was fun, I liked to be in the group, to perform in a group, there was no special guy I preferred, it was the group and it was the team, that was my inspiration.

[What excites me the most about English football?] Great stadiums, great teams, that’s for me a big challenge, to go to the Premier League and to be here, at Arsenal is a big target.

{The Arsenal players I’m most looking forward to work with?] That’s difficult because every player, here, has many special things.

For me, every player can give something, I think I can grab things [from every player] so there’s no one special, it’s the team, that is what is going to make me better.