New Arsenal academy director Per Mertesacker has laid out his plans for their youth system.

Arsenal announced Mertesacker's appointment a year ago and have spent the past 12 months recruiting experienced staff to surround their outgoing club captain, who has taken a particular interest in the progress of youngsters at first-team training this season.

“In my new role as Arsenal academy manager I will do everything I can to challenge the young players' mindsets," he wrote in an extract from his new book Weltmeister ohne Talent (world champion without talent), published in the Guardian.

“I want to challenge them so that they are ready to take on new ideas and protect them from being injured, when it comes to their body and soul.

“I want to convince them they have to do something to get to the top of the world and I want to be an example for them. For me there wasn't really a way up but somehow I made it there anyway, because I did everything I possibly could to give me the best chances to succeed. Talent is what you make of your situation."