Mertesacker a doubt for Arsenal’s Premier League opener

According to the club’s captain himself, Per Mertesacker is feeling good following his collision with the elbow of Gary Cahill in Arsenal’s Community Shield victory over Chelsea yesterday. The German said that the injury was merely a deep cut, with seemingly no concussion, that was able to be treated with a few stitches. That is very good news indeed after the violent collision of elbow and head in the first half of yesterday’s match.

Mertesacker is, however, a doubt for the Premier League opener against Leicester City on Friday. There is still a good amount of swelling around his cut which will need to go down before Per can retake the pitch. With Laurent Koscielny suspended and Gabriel injured, recent returnee Shkodran Mustafi may be rushed back into action. Other options include the back three that finished the match yesterday, Sead Kolasinac, Nacho Monreal, and Rob Holding, as well as Calum Chambers.