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Arsenal star commits future to club after agreeing new contract

By mac14 on January 17, 2017

Per Mertesacker has committed his future to Arsenal after agreeing a new one-year contract extension with the club, according to the Express.

The German defender’s current deal is due to expire in June and his future has been in doubt as it appears he’s lost his first team place following an injury plagued campaign.

Mertesacker is yet to play a single minute of competitive football this season after suffering a serious knee injury during a pre-season friendly with Lens back in July.

In his absence, summer signing Shkodran Mustafi has formed a superb partnership with Laurent Koscielny at the back so many thought Per may decide to head back to Germany when his contract expires to see out the final years of his career in his homeland.

However, Arsene Wenger suggested earlier this month that the club were keen to agree one-year extensions with both Mertesacker and Santi Cazorla – who’s also out-of-contract this summer.

The boss is quoted as saying by the Express:

“We have an option on both of them and I think we will take it,”

“For their qualities as football players firstly but as well for their mental guidance.

“We need to have a balance between youth and experience. They are important in that.”

It looks like our club captain has now committed his future to the club as the Express are citing a report from the Times that claims Mertesacker has now agreed a new one-year extension worth £70,000-a-week.

I must admit I’m a little surprised as the 32-year-old is likely to start next season as our fourth choice behind Koscielny, Mustafi and Gabriel while Rob Holding has also been impressing following his move from Bolton.

However, it seems Wenger is keen to keep Mertesacker around for his experience in the dressing room and he’s set to join Olivier Giroud, Laurent Koscielny and Francis Coquelin in signing a new deal with the club after they penned extensions earlier this month.