Robin van Persie has slammed Per Mertesacker for his recent criticism of Arsenal legend Arsene Wenger, defending the Frenchman a 'great coach'.
The pair spent one season playing together under Wenger before Van Persie, then Arsenal captain, moved across the Premier League to join Manchester United in 2013.
Mertesacker later took the captaincy himself before retiring after seven seasons in North London and now remains part of the furniture as manager of the academy side.
While he remains tightly knitted with the club, Mertesacker did not shy away from criticising Wenger in his recent book for having too much faith in his players.
However, Van Persie, who owes his career to Wenger's guidance, has responded - stating Mertesacker can 'say what he wants' but added that he remembers Wenger's reign very differently.
"My opinion at first is that loads of ex-players are making a book, it's sort of fashion to write a book, which I will personally not do. That is his opinion, he can have that. I'm not really going into that. He can think what he wants," he told the Daily Mail .
"I worked eight years under him, he gave me chances. On a private matter, he was always open to chat to me about life and as a person as well, and as a coach he was great.
"Some people judge him just on trophies, like whatever, Per now is finding a reason. He can say what he wants to say."
