Arsenal vice-captain Per Mertesacker has been involved in a minor car accident, but has not suffered any injuries from the incident on the M1 during a downpour on Monday.

The defender hasn’t played for nearly a month but is close to a return, and the incident shouldn’t have any bearing on whether or not he can return to the team for Wednesday’s trip to Dinamo Zagreb.

The news was broken by the Mirror on Monday evening, and the news outlet had quotes from an Arsenal ‘source’ as well as an eye witness.

“Per had an accident after he left training this morning [Monday] when he went onto the M1 returning home,” the club source confirmed. “The car aquaplaned into the crash area on the central reservation.

“He was shaken up but not injured. No other vehicles were involved and there was no one else in his car.

“It’s not a big deal. Per is fine and ready to return to training.”

The German centre-half has been kept out by a bad illness but is supposed to be close to a return to the team.

Arsène Wenger had reportedly ruled the defender out of the Dinamo Zagreb game on Wednesday night, but he could still make the trip. He’s been in training for a number of days now and, should he return for Tuesday morning’s session before the team fly to Croatia, he must be in contention.

Everyone at Daily Cannon is glad to hear that the incident wasn’t as serious as it could have been and hope to see Per available for selection again in the near future.