Mertesacker still has debut goosebumps

Defender Per Mertesacker admitted his Arsenal debut gave him goosebumps.

The Germany international made his first appearance since signing from Werder Bremen in Saturday’s 1-0 win at home to Swansea. “I still have goosebumps,” said Mertesacker. “We are in the motherland of football. It was something special.”

The defender’s inside knowledge of the Bundesliga will be called upon when Arsenal travel to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League tonight. And he claimed his new team should not be too encouraged by the German champions’ poor start to the season, including a 2-1 home defeat to newly-promoted Hertha Berlin at the weekend.

“For me, Dortmund are the top favourites for the last 16 and are still a top squad,” he added. Aaron Ramsey and Tomas Rosicky have both been ruled out of the game with injury, and Thomas Vermaelen and Jack Wilshere are other key players also missing, although new signings Mikel Arteta, Mertesacker, Yossi Benayoun, Andre Santos and Park Chu-young are available.