“A renewal with Arsenal is my absolute priority” says 32-year-old star

Per Mertesacker insists his “absolute priority” is to extend his contract at Arsenal beyond next summer.

The 32-year-old, who earned 104 caps for Germany during his international career, has failed to feature for the Premier League outfit so far this term due to a knee injury sustained during pre-season.

However, the towering centre-half, whose current deal expires at the end of the 2016/17 campaign, is determined to prove his worth under manager Arsene Wenger when he is scheduled to return in the New Year and extend his stay at the Emirates Stadium.

Photo: Simon Stacpoole / Offside.

Mertesacker told Spox, “A renewal with Arsenal is my absolute priority.

“But we have not made an appointment yet to discuss a new deal.

“Arsenal are my top priority and everything else is just speculation.”

Boss Wenger confirmed only last month that no offer was currently on the table for the 2014 FIFA World Cup winner, with German sides Werder Bremen and Hamburg expressing an interest in bringing the defender back to his homeland ahead of the forthcoming January transfer window.