[Photo] Wenger Gives Injury Update As Arsenal Ace Leaves Wembley In Protective Boot

Arsene Wenger has given an update on the injury sustained by Per Mertesacker after the defender limped out of yesterday’s 2-1 FA Cup win over Reading.

Mertesacker captained the side once again as he started alongside Laurent Koscielny at the back during our semi-final clash at Wembley on Saturday evening.

The German was having a tough afternoon against a spirited Reading side and shortly after they equalised early in the second half, the 30-year-old required treatment after receiving a heavy tackle in the middle of the park.

Mertesacker was eventually forced off and he limped gingerly from the field as he was replaced by Gabriel Paulista in the 63rd minute and as shown in the photo above, he was snapped leaving Wembley wearing a protective boot on his left ankle.

It seems he could be set for a spell on the sidelines as Arsene Wenger admitted after the game that Per has suffered an ankle injury and the initial signs don’t look good.

The boss told Arsenal.com:

on Per Mertesacker…

He has an ankle problem. He is limping badly so that doesn’t look too good.

We’ll have to wait and see what damage has been done but it looks like we’ll be without our stand-in skipper for the visit of Chelsea on Sunday afternoon. If so, Gabriel will start alongside Koscielny at the heart of defence.

The Brazilian slotted in well yesterday when he came on and made one superb tackle when one-on-one with a Reading attacker late on, and he was also a huge threat on set-pieces, so hopefully he will prove to be ab able deputy if Mertesacker is ruled out.