Mertesacker not yet settled at Arsenal

Germany international defender Per Mertesacker has not yet adjusted to life in London, and admitted Arsenal's poor start to the season has not helped at all.

Since arriving from Werder Bremen for 8m GBP, Mertesacker has shown flashes of his class but ultimately the Gunners find themselves languishing in 15th position and conceding 17 goals in 7 games.

"I've only been gone a month from Germany. I have not yet properly acclimatised," he told the German FA.

"Sometimes it feels like an extended holiday. Only slowly am I starting to get used to the fact that the centre of my life is now actually in London.

"I have been living in England since the middle of September, but it doesn't yet feel like home. I don't have my own house or my own flat.

"There is a lack of anchor points which I already had in Germany. But that takes time, it's normal.

"We have many new players, but I feel that we have integrated very quickly. I still have communication problems, but given the circumstances this is inevitable."