Per Mertesacker left the field with the help the Arsenal medical team (Picture: Getty)
Per Mertesacker left the field with the help the Arsenal medical team (Picture: Getty)

Arsene Wenger has allayed fears Per Mertesacker could miss the Premier League opener after the defender was forced off in the Community Shield.

Mertesacker clashed with Gary Cahill in the air and the arm of his Chelsea counterpart opened up a nasty cut on the Arsenal man’s head.

Pictures of a very bloody Mertesacker raised concerns it could be a serious head injury with the German receiving lengthy treatment on the pitch.

But, Mertesacker was back out for the celebrations as Arsenal beat Chelsea to lift the Community Shield.

A collision with Gary Cahill caused the injury (Picture: Getty)
A collision with Gary Cahill caused the injury (Picture: Getty)
(Picture: Getty)
(Picture: Getty)

The 32-year-old even lifted the trophy with the rest of his Arsenal team-mates and Wenger is hopeful he will be ready for the new season.

Wenger said: ‘I will have to speak with medical about that, it doesn’t look that bad.’

And the Frenchman provided further encouragement in the post-match press conference.

Arsenal opening day fixture

ARSENAL vs Leicester City – KO 7.45pm

Emirates Stadium, Friday Aug 11

‘The cut on the forehead it’s nothing bad, just was bleeding and open but it’s not bad,’ he said.

Arsenal take on Leicester City on the opening day of the Premier League season on Friday night.

(Picture: Getty)

The Foxes travel to the Emirates and Arsenal are hopeful they will have several of their first-team stars fit enough to play.

Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez, Aaron Ramsey and Laurent Koscielny were all missing from Arsenal’s starting line-up, but Wenger has one more week to get his players fit.

Mertesacker missed almost the entirety of last season due to a serious knee injury before returning to play on the final day of league action.

Koscielny will definitely sit out the opening game due to suspension, which means Arsenal head into the opening weekend of Prmeier League action with a slight defensive crisis.

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