SANCHEZ GUNNER BE HERE

PER MERTESACKER is “very confident” Alexis Sanchez will remain at Arsenal – despite not pleading with him to stay.

Arsenal club captain Mertesacker admitted that he has left Sanchez alone since the end of the season to make up his mind on his future despite the growing uncertainty.

Manchester City are leading the chase for Sanchez (below) who only has 12 months left on his current contract and has been involved in a long-running stand off.

But Mertesacker has resisted the temptation of ringing Sanchez because he says he must make up his own mind.

World Cup winner Mertesacker said: “He needs a break now. He needs to relax. He has done a lot for us. He played almost every game last season and then the Confederations Cup.

“You need to leave him alone. To make up his mind what he wants to do. He has one more year and then he makes his mind up.

“It’s his decision. If he feels good, comfortable, he can play with freedom. He has his qualities. You cannot find those everywhere. He has shown them and we have embraced him. I am very confident.”

Mertesacker enjoyed a fairytale finish to last season as Arsenal’s man of the match in the FA Cup final and will carry on for one more year before heading up the club’s academy. Mertesacker barely played last season because of a knee injury which is still being managed and is aware of the “captain’s curse” which saw every player given the armband since Patrick Vieira left in 2005 suffer a long term injury. He admitted he was aware of it and said: “It doesn’t matter to me. I have lots to give. Players embrace that. “Last season was not satisfying for me. The end was a fairytale but the way to that was very tough. I want to stay injury free, be an option for the manager get picked every weekend. That’s the target. To make it as enjoyable as I can.” Mertesacker also has high hopes for Arsenal’s defensive protege Rob Holding. He added: “I am trying to help him as much as I can for the next step – playing regularly.”