Arsenal are said to be considering sending Per Mertesacker out on loan so he can prove that he deserves a new contract despite being Arsenal captain, an honour he was only handed during the summer.

With Mertesacker unlikely to play any sort of starring role for the first team unless injuries strike, the Times [£] believe that the club are considering sending him to a club where he can play regularly and prove that the knee injury which has kept him out all season has not caused him more long-term problems.

Per himself wants a new Arsenal deal but knows that it is not a foregone conclusion that one will come his way. Wenger, for his part, has admitted that he is open to giving the German a new deal. But, as we’ve been saying all season, the club have serious fears over Per’s ability to recover fully.

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Should Mertesacker not be fit enough to be included in the Champions League squad (deadline February 1) Hughes believes the club will let him leave on loan.

He also states that Arsenal are not expected to be active in this window which is not surprising in the slightest. This move, however, should it happen, will be late in the month and we expect a number of loans for young players to be agreed as well.

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