Arsenal stall over Per Mertesacker contract talks

Per Mertesacker is still waiting to begin contract talks with Arsenal despite having a little over a year left on his current deal.

Mertesacker has made 21 Premier League starts for the Gunners this term, but Arsene Wenger has opted to start Gabriel alongside Laurent Koscielny in central defence in recent weeks as he rotates the back line.

Indeed, Mertesacker last featured in the shock FA Cup defeat to Watford at Emirates Stadium earlier this month and has had to settle for a spot among the substitutes for the subsequent trips to both Barcelona and Everton.

It is believed the 31-year-old will seek to review the situation at the end of the season.

Mertesacker's current deal runs to the end of next season, but Mikel Arteta, Thomas Rosicky and Mathieu Flamini are all set to leave the club as free agents in the summer.