Arsenal skipper Per Mertesacker looks set to miss his side’s Champions League clash with Croatian side Dinamo Zagreb.
According to Daily Star, Mertesacker has been left “bedridden” for the past 18 days after suffering a mystery virus, and Gunners boss Arsene Wenger confirmed the German international would not be ready to return until at least the end of the week.
“With Mertesacker, it was a serious condition and he is not ready today to play,” Wenger is quoted as saying by Daily Star.
“I believe by the end of the week he should be much better.”
It means the World Cup winner will miss the trip to Zagreb for the Champions League opener and is in danger of being sidelined for Arsenal’s clash with Chelsea on the weekend.
While Arsenal are the raging favourites to beat the Croatian champions, Wenger said his side could not take anything for granted.
“We lost our first game last year in Dortmund and straight away it put us under pressure. After that we had our backs to the wall and had to really focus,” Wenger said.
“So it is important that we go to Zagreb and realise what is at stake there.
“You have Olympiakos and Zagreb – first we have to finish above them.”
Arsenal will want to improve on its last showing in the Champions League after being knocked out in the round of 16 by AS Monaco.
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