Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker loves the tradition of playing during the festive period in Premier League and would not have it any other way.
Unlike England's top flight, most of the major leagues in Europe such as La Liga, Bundesliga, and Serie A take a winter break around the turn of the year but Mertesacker insists he is now used to the hectic Christmas period.
Mertesacker said: "Yes, I admit I'm playing during the winter period when it's a bit colder than usual. But I like that because it's a competition and a tradition here and it keeps everybody on the ball.
"Maybe the first one or two seasons at Arsenal, I was mentally not well during this period and in January I suffered a lot. But now I like to play, you get used to it.
"On the one hand, when I played in Germany, you wanted to switch off and celebrate with your family and take a break through Christmas until New Year's Eve and then start again. You are in the tunnel over here.
"But this is our job and I'd love to do it for a couple more years. I will dedicate everything I have got to have success in this football world."
