Per Mertesacker: Arsenal contract the aim for big defender who dismisses talk of Gunners exit

PER MERTESACKER says he want to extend his contract at Arsenal - but admits his future is up in the air.

The big German's current deal expires in the summer and he insists he is going nowhere if he has any say in it.

He has not featured this term after suffering knee cartilage damage in the summer, which is expected to keep him out until January at the earliest.

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And the defender has been forced to watch Shkodran Mustafi establish himself in the heart of the Gunners backline - a partnership Rio Ferdinand has described as the best he has seen at the club in years.

Despite suggestions he is braced for a return to his homeland at the end of his contract, Mertesacker is determined to earn himself another deal in North London.

But he admits that no talks are scheduled.

Speaking to Spox, he said: “An extension at Arsenal is an absolute priority for me.

“But there are no agreements on a schedule for this at the moment.”

Mertesacker's boss is also out of contract in the summer as things stand.

But he has backed Arsene Wenger as the man to take the Gunners forward.

Mertesacker added: "For me, Arsene Wenger is far above any public criticism.

"A coach who led the club for 20 years... one must look at the big picture here and he deserves the highest respect."