Arsenal captain Per Mertesacker has paid tribute to former teammate Robert Enke.

Enke took his own life in 2009, after a career which saw him play for Barcelona, Benfica, Fenerbahce and Germany.

In an open letter published by So Foot, Mertesacker recalls first meeting with Enke.

"Robert entered the locker room of Hannover 96 in the summer of 2004 and greeted me. He said to me 'Ah, hello, you are Per'. He came from Spain, from Barcelona, and from the beginning I had the impression that he liked me.

"He encouraged me, allowed me to believe in my qualities .. Sometimes a 19 year old does not see them. When I arrived at the hotel for an international match, I did two things: register and call Robert: 'Are you already there? I just arrived, you come to my room? He came and we talked about everything and nothing'."