Whether you’re a fan of it or not, Per Mertesacker will be a player at Arsenal for the 2017/18 campaign after agreeing a new contract extension.
An official announcement is yet to be made but it appears the club and the German himself have levelled with each other on extending his stay by one more year.
Arsene Wenger revealed earlier this month that he will jump at the chance to offer his captain a longer stay with the Gunners, revealing there was an option in his current deal that could be triggered.
At 32, Mertesacker is reaching the final years of his game at the top level and many supporters felt he might be suited to a coaching role considering the circumstances in defence.
Wenger has the formidable partnership of Kostafi at the moment, with Gabriel, Holding and on-loan Chambers all considered to be better options than the ageing German.
However, with great age comes great experience and as a World Cup winner his impact in the dressing room is something that you can’t put a price on.
Saying that, the London Evening Standard believe Mertesacker will receive £70,000 a week to remain at the club that he joined for £8million back in 2011.
The captain’s curse has yet again reigned over Mertesacker, who has failed to play a single minute this season after suffering a pre-season injury to his knee that required surgery.
It’s believed Wenger will keep him on as a squad player to ensure he can come in when needed to cover a hectic run of games over the start of the season and through the festive period.
Many reports suggest Mertesacker will be handed the chance to go out on loan at the end of this month in order to build his match fitness, with chances likely to be slim in an Arsenal shirt.
But it’s exactly that, even when he’s fit, Mertesacker is fifth in the pecking order of centre backs, meaning it’s an expensive voice to have in the dressing room pre-match.
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