I Can Be A Key Player For Arsenal - Pet Mertesacker

Pet Mertesacker believes he can play a key role for Arsenal again once he recovers from the knee injury which has kept him out since the summer. The German defender suffered the setback during his side's 1-1 pre-season draw with Lens and is not expected to return until 2017.


In his absence, summer signing Shkodran Mustafi has formed a good partnership with Laurent Koscielny but Mertesacker is optimistic he can find a way back into the team. He said “I believe that I can reach a level again on which I am important for the team. I have the feeling that this is not the end. I look at the perspectives for me and my family and I think that I'll intensify those thoughts from January on. That's also the time when you can listen to other things [offers] when your contract is expiring. I know that I need to allow myself time The more time I allow my knee, the longer I'll be able to play football. I can increase the workload already and I am no longer in pain.”


Mertesacker has made 206 appearances for Arsenal since moving to the Emirates from Werder Bremen in 2011.