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Arsène Wenger confirms Per Mertesacker is out of action for months Arsène Wenger confirms Per Mertesacker is out of action for months
(35 minutes later)
Arsène Wenger has revealed Per Mertesacker will be out of action for “a few months” with a knee injury.Arsène Wenger has revealed Per Mertesacker will be out of action for “a few months” with a knee injury.
The German centre-half suffered the problem during Friday night’s friendly against Lens and was then left out of Arsenal’s pre-season tour of the United States. The centre-half suffered the problem during the friendly against Lens on Friday and was left out of Arsenal’s tour of the United States. There were reports the injury would rule out the 31-year-old for up to five months but Wenger could only confirm his defender, who was likely to be Arsenal’s new captain for the season, will miss a sizeable period of their Premier League campaign that starts against Liverpool at the Emirates on 14 August.
There were reports that the injury would rule out the 31-year-old for up to five months but Wenger could only confirm his defender – who was likely to be Arsenal’s new captain for the season – would miss a good chunk of their Premier League campaign which gets under way when Arsenal host Liverpool on 14 August at the Emirates.
Related: Arsenal’s £29m offer for Alexandre Lacazette rejected by LyonRelated: Arsenal’s £29m offer for Alexandre Lacazette rejected by Lyon
Speaking during a press conference before the club’s friendly against the MLS All Stars, Wenger confirmed that Mertesacker would miss a “few months” of action. Speaking during a press conference before the club’s friendly against the MLS All Stars, Wenger confirmed Mertesacker would miss a “few months” of action. Mertesacker’s injury leaves Wenger short at the back with Laurent Koscielny being handed an extended break after Euro 2016 and Gabriel Paulista currently struggling with tonsilitis. Calum Chambers and the new signing Rob Holding could start in the centre of defence when Arsenal play a side featuring Kaka, Didier Drogba, Andrea Pirlo and Clint Dempsey on Friday at the Avaya Stadium, the home of the San Jose Earthquakes based in California.
Arsenal will play a side featuring Kaka, Didier Drogba, Andrea Pirlo, Didier Drogba and Clint Dempsey on Friday at the Avaya Stadium, the home of the San Jose Earthquakes based in California.
Mertesacker’s injury leaves Wenger short of options with Laurent Koscielny being handed an extended break after Euro 2016.