The Arsenal centre-back Per Mertesacke has announced his retirement from German national team, just a month after winning the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

The 29-year-old, who made his international debut against Iran in October 2004, has won 104 caps and scored four goals in 10-year spell for the Germans.

The former Hannover and Werder Bremen defender, who got married last year – has decided to quit international duty in order to spend quality time with his family and focus on club career at the Emirates.

“First and foremost it was about me, after a 10-year career in the team, being able to say when the chapter ended,” Mertesacker told Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper.

The centre-back becomes the third German World Cup winner to retire from internationals following the announcement of Philipp Lahm and Miroslav Klose.

Mertesacker has played at five major tournaments with three World Cups and the European Championships in 2008 and 2012.