For now they are team-mates, but Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker cannot way to go face to face with striker Robin van Persie at Euro 2012.

Germany and Holland have been drawn together in the group stages of the tournament, meaning the pair are highly likely to play against each other and although though Mertesacker is looking forward to the match, he admitted to the club’s official website that keeping tabs on Van Persie will be hard work.

“It will be very tough to stop Robin. [Sometimes he plays on the right for Holland but] I think his best position is in the front, in the middle. There he can use his unbelievable skills. He is so reliable in scoring goals it is incredible,” he said.

Both Holland and Germany will have their work cut out to get into the next round of the tournament as Portugal and Denmark, the other two teams in the group, will also be confident of progressing. Anyone who follows the Champions League betting online will know the striker has been on fire this season.

However, Mertsacker hopes that the German side can take the consistency which saw them win all ten of their qualification matches to the tournament proper in Poland and Ukraine.

He added that the fact the German squad features a number of young players should help ensure the side has the fitness levels to go far in the competition.

Given Germany have been to two semis and one final in the last three major competitions, Mertesacker is convinced that he and his team-mates have what it takes to push on and win Euro 2012.