Friday, 22nd November, 2013
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed that the Gunners are speaking with Germany defender Per Mertesacker about extending his contract.
Mertesacker, who was Germany's match-winner in their 1-0 friendly win over England at Wembley on Tuesday evening, sees his current deal with the Gunners expire in the summer of 2015.
He has formed a solid defensive partnership with Laurent Koscielny in Arsenal's defence, which has kept captain Thomas Vermaelen out of the side.
And Wenger wants to tie down the ex-Werder Bremen man for the long term.
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Asked whether Mertesacker is being lined up for a new contract, Wenger told a press conference: "We are in the process, yes, of talking."
Mertesacker arrived at Arsenal in the summer of 2011.
At international level he has nearly reached the 100-cap mark for Germany, sitting on 95 to date.
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