In Germany there seems to be some sort of fascination about the song Arsenal fans sing for Per Mertesacker.

Our “Big F***ing German” was a guest ZDF Sportstudio in his homeland this weekend, and said during his interview that defensive partner Laurent Koscielny gets jealous of Per’s chant.

Asked if anyone – particularly Kosicelny – was jealous, the Arsenal vice-captain nodded.

“Yeah, they sing about him wanting his own song,” Mertesacker said. “It’s a great honour (to have your own song) and if you demand it too much, you’ll get some malice.”

The defender hasn’t played for other a month and was asked if he would make his return to the side on Wednesday for the League Cup game against Tottenham.

“I strongly assume so,” the centre-half confirmed.

With Gabriel banned, you’d think Mertesacker will be needed in the Arsenal squad at the very least and is likely to get on the pitch. The German will have to get up to match fitness quickly, with the Brazilian defender now banned for at least three games.

Arsenal have coped well without Mertesacker, but his calming influence at the back has been missed and we can’t have him back soon enough. Maybe, on Wednesday, he can even continue his decent goalscoring record in north London derbies.

I wonder if Laurent Koscielny is jealous of that, too.