Arsene Wenger has confirmed that Per Mertesacker has signed a one-year contract extension with Arsenal.

The boss revealed the news at his pre-Burnley press conference on Thursday morning.

The big centreback was out of contract at the end of the season and while we’re not sure whether he’ll be stay at Arsenal or go out on loan, he’s at least a Gunner for another 18 months from now.

There will be mixed feelings amongst Gooners since although many like Per as a person, as a player, at the age of 32, he’s not the best anymore.

What’s more is that this season he’s not played yet after getting knee surgery, forcing Wenger to buy Shkodran Mustafi from Valencia at the end of the summer transfer window. Mustafi has been brilliant alongside captain Laurent Koscielny so far this season and I can’t see Per managing to fight his way back into the starting XI.

I’m sure we’ll hear more about Per’s situation in the coming days.