Arsenal summer signing Sokratis Papastathopoulos says he is relishing the opportunity to nurture countryman Konstantinos Mavropanos at The Emirates this season.

The defensive duo, who are both from Greece, started together in Arsenal’s 8-0 pre-season win over Boreham Wood last week.

Mavropanos, 20, joined the Gunners in January while Sokratis arrived as a £16 million signing from Borussia Dortmund this summer.

And the former Bundesliga defender, 30, says he will do everything in his power to help his fellow Grecian in North London.

“I think this is my work and the work of the other guys with experience, to help the young guys,” Sokratis told Arsenal Player. “From the first day, I will do everything so that the young guys feel like they have been here for a lot of years.

“[Dinos and I] spoke two or three times on the telephone, and also when he came here. I said to him that it’s OK, Arsenal is one of the big teams but he has to be happy and needs to put in a lot of work.

“I also saw some games. He improved a lot and I think that if he improves again in the next year, he can be one of the best defenders.

“The first year is difficult because it also depends if you speak the language or not. Now I’m here I also have to help him to be more calm, more easy, more friendly here with the other guys. I think we can have one good relationship together, we can be friends.”