Daily Mirror

PER FOR THE COURSE

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PER MERTESACKE­R is ready to ease Arsenal’s defensive crisis at Wembley despite just 37 minutes of football this season. The 32-year-old centre-back (below) is in line for a dramatic return because Laurent Koscielny is suspended and Gabriel Paulista is out for two months. The German made his first appearance of the season, after major knee surgery last summer, when he came off the bench in Sunday’s win over Everton.

He said: “I haven’t played this year but I used to do this for 15 years so I expect to be ready. Whatever happens and whoever is facing me on Saturday, I want to make sure I am 100 per cent ready – for 120 minutes plus penalties.”

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