WE often highlight, for good reason, the footballers flying the flag for Australia abroad with their exploits at big clubs or in big leagues.

Showing what our nation is made of.

Proving we can match it with the best the world game has to offer.

Off the field however, one man continues to do exactly the same.

Camera Icon Darren Burgess with Arsenal's Jack Wilshere. Credit: News Corp Australia

Darren Burgess is well known by now in Australian football circles.

A sports scientist with the Socceroos leading into the 2010 World Cup, he was brought across to Liverpool along with the rest of our national team’s fitness set-up to run the show at the Reds.

A successful stint at Anfield came to an end after three years and he returned home for a role with Port Adelaide in the AFL.

His heart, however, has always hankered for football so when Arsene Wenger head-hunted a man labelled ‘the best in the world at what he does’ to change the way Arsenal do things in preparation for games, his return to the Premier League was sealed.

Fox Football’s Daniel Garb caught up with him at the Emirates recently where he touched on what it’s like working amid the tumult of the current day Wenger era, what he’s brought to the Arsenal table, his role in signing players and the Gunners stars that set things alight away from the glaring spotlight of the fans eyes:

Camera Icon Darren Burgess during his time at Port Adelaide Credit: News Corp Australia

DG: You’ve made a return to the Premier League, how’s it been for you? What’s this experience like having been at a Premier League club before in Liverpool?

DB: It’s been great, I’m a football person so to come back to the Premier League is brilliant, I didn’t think I’d get the chance to return and at a club like Arsenal as well – it’s just an amazing club with a superb history. I’m in a slightly different role to the past which has taken some adjusting but to be part of this club at this time has been a great experience.

DG: What have you brought to the table? In terms of your expertise from Australian sports science what are you providing for Arsenal Football Club?

DB: I think it’s about managing players individually within a team scenario. For example this season we’ve basically had to manage two squads within the Premier League and Europa League and rotated them each week so I think it’s the ability to maximise their training and get the best out of them on game day which is something that Australian sports science is reasonably well known for. So that’s my main objective and that came from Arsene before the season, to let him know when to push and when to hold back so hopefully I’ve contributed to that. I must say that the Sports Medicine and Conditioning team here is fantastic as well so it’s been superb working with the quality staff that was here when I arrived

DG: And your role as well is to give some input on potential transfer signings as well, you’re pretty involved in that?

DB: I’m not so much on pitch anymore it’s more the overall performance of the first team and the academy so things like transfers I have a small input on from a physical perspective. For example how they’ve performed over the last five or six years and what their rate of decline might be if they’re an older player or if they’re a younger player where their potential might get to. I certainly don’t make the call on whether to sign someone or not but I have an input which has been a real learning experience for me.

DG: What are the main differences between this club and your last in the Premier League in Liverpool?

DB: Probably stability. Yeh, that’s one thing (laughs). At Liverpool I had three managers in the three years I was there whereas here Arsene’s been here for a very long time so while the history and status is similar at Liverpool we had change of ownership, management and therefore a lot of instability at that time. Here, even though there’s a bit of uncertainty about the manager the stability around the place - you don’t feel a threat like you did at Liverpool.

DG: That instability around Wenger that you touched on, what’s it been like being around a club with all that noise going on?

DB: It’s been fascinating, Dan. Like in some games, the home game against Ostersunds for example I sat behind him on the bench and some of the language that he had to cop from our own fans was pretty colourful! The pressure he’s under is enormous. When you think you’ve got 30 odd million fans around the world who are undecided and constantly debating his position, it’s been a really interesting experience. The way he’s handling it, it’s been incredible and speaks volumes for him as a person because I can only imagine what it was like last year when similar things were happening. I’ve learned something every day that’s for sure.

Camera Icon Conditioning coach Darren Burgess with the Australia team during the warm up ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Credit: Getty Images

DG: And when you step away from the pitch does it ever get to him, do you ever see the stress taking over?

DB: No, that’s the thing. I’m sure it does, he wouldn’t be human if it didn’t at times but he handles it with such class and dignity. He’s got such incredible determination to win every game I’ve never seen anything like it. That’s why he’s done what he’s done.

DG: And just quickly, fans love knowing this because they don’t get to watch EPL training ever – who are the best trainers both with the ball and also physically?

DB: I remember watching Mesut Ozil against Australia in South Africa on that fateful day against Germany and I thought he was unbelievable. He doesn’t get the credit he deserves because he looks so laconic. I liken him a bit to Mark Waugh who I watched growing up. I’m yet to see him dispossessed in training even by bigger players and more physical players he’s just unbelievable. And the best thing about him, and I’d teach this to my son if I get the chance – he just keeps it simple. Watching him has been a real pleasure. In terms of the hardest trainers guys like Aaron Ramsey, Granit Xhaka and Danny Welbeck are unbelievable with what they do and the numbers they put out every day. The one who excites me the most at the moment is Aubameyang – his speed and acceleration, I’ve never seen anything like it. He’s an interesting character he’s got a different car for a different day of the week and the clothes to match but watching him has been eye-catching.