Arsenal icon and U21s Manager Per Mertesacker opened a new NHS mental health centre in Islington – right at the heart of the Gunners’ community.

The state-of-the-art centre is part of the North London Mental Health Partnership, providing mental and physical health services to its wider community less than a mile away from the Emirates. NLMHP already works closely with Arsenal through the club's Community Project, delivering sport, social and education programmes to over 5,000 people each week.

On the opening of the centre, Mertesacker said: “This is an issue that is close to my heart. Our mental wellbeing is just as important as our physical wellbeing. That’s something we work on every day at our club, whether that’s giving our young Gunners in the Academy the tools and confidence they need to learn and grow, or whether it’s our Community team, who are providing essential support and care to some of the most vulnerable people in our area.

“I’m proud I can share in this moment to deliver a first-class facility right in the heart of our community, that will play a major role in supporting both patients and staff for years to come.”

As society continues to encourage open conversations about mental health, football has followed suit. More players – both current and former – have come forward sharing their own struggles with mental health, encouraging their fans and teammates to do the same.

In the community, Arsenal has made efforts to increase access to mental health services through The Arsenal Hub, providing counselling and therapeutic support to young people living in Islington.

A lot of work still needs to be done to destigmatise conversations surrounding mental health in football, but with more partnerships and efforts towards community engagement like this one, the progress the sport has made is clear.