Arsene Wenger today revealed Arsenal are in talks to extend Per Mertesacker’s contract.
The 29-year-old has 18 months left on his current deal and the club are believed to have offered the defender a new three-year package as a reward for his impressive form.
Mertesacker (above) was a key figure in helping the Gunners overhaul Tottenham to finish fourth last season and his partnership with Laurent Koscielny has continued into the current campaign, forcing captain Thomas Vermaelen to watch from the sidelines.
Wenger said: “He has one-and-a-half years to go so that is a long time. We are in the process of talking.”
Mathieu Flamini is suspended for tomorrow’s home game against Southampton after receiving his fifth yellow card of the season at Manchester United but Wenger has everybody else available from the team that lost 1-0.
Southampton have conceded just five goals in the opening 11 League matches with manager Mauricio Pochettino targeting Champions League football and Wenger said: “You cannot rule anybody out. If they can keep their defensive record they can be very ambitious.
“If you look at the quality of their work and the players they have in the England team plus the players that could go in the national team, it’s great what they have achieved.”
