Arsenal coach Per Mertesacker has demanded World Cup action for West Ham United star Thilo Kehrer.
West Ham and Arsenal have a number of star players representing their countries at the World Cup in Qatar right now.
David Moyes and Mikel Arteta will be hoping to get their key men back in one piece for very different reasons when the Premier League resumes on Boxing Day.
West Ham are one point off the bottom three and Arsenal are leading the way at the top of the table.
Ironically the Hammers visit the Gunners when domestic action resumes on Boxing Day evening.
One player who looked an absolute shoo-in to start for their country at the World Cup was West Ham’s Kehrer.
Germany boss Flick had used Kehrer more than any other player since taking over from Joachim Low.
Kehrer started Germany’s last international match against Oman at centre-back. And the game before that – a 3-3 draw with England – he started at right-back.
But Flick dropped him for Germany’s World Cup opener against Japan.
In many ways it is not a huge surprise. After impressing initially when signing for the Hammers, Kehrer has been extremely erratic and inconsistent as West Ham went into the World Cup break two places above the relegation zone.
Kehrer has been described as ‘woeful’ by Matchday 365 who revealed he has made FIVE errors which have directly resulted in goals for the opposition since joining West Ham – the most in the Premier League.
Flick instead used giant defender Niklas Sule at right-back as Germany suffered one of the shock results of the tournament so far, losing 2-1 to Japan.
You won’t find many Arsenal fans bothered about how Germany get on at this World Cup.
But one man at Arsenal very much is – academy coach and manager Per Mertesacker.
The former Gunners defender has been discussing Germany’s forthcoming high pressure clash with Spain.
Lose and Kehrer will be on his way back to West Ham sooner than he or any of his teammates would like should Japan get a result against Costa Rica.
Arsenal coach Per Mertesacker demands World Cup action for West Ham star Thilo Kehrer
Now Arsenal coach Mertesacker has demanded World Cup action for West Ham star Kehrer.
Speaking on the latest episode of Was geht, WM, the former Arsenal defender says he wouldn’t “throw everything overboard” after the defeat to Japan.
Instead the 38-year-old has urged Flick to make just one simple change – bring West Ham’s £10m summer signing back into the side.
The 2014 World Cup winner believes Kehrer should start at right-back with Sule shifting alongside Antonio Rudiger with Nico Schlotterbeck dropping to the bench.