Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker suffers gruesome facial injury after sickening clash with Gary Cahill

Per Mertesacker was left covered in blood after a sickening clash with Gary Cahill during the first half of the Community Shield final on Sunday.

The Arsenal captain leapt to head the ball but was caught with an elbow by the English centre back.

Mertesacker fell to the ground with a nasty gash over his right eye.

Per Mertesacker receives treatment after a clash with Chelsea defender Gary Cahill

Per Mertesacker receives treatment after a clash with Chelsea defender Gary Cahill

The Arsenal captain was left covered in blood after being caught with an elbow

The Arsenal captain was left covered in blood after being caught with an elbow

Replays showed Mertesacker (left) was unintentionally elbowed by Cahill during the first half

Replays showed Mertesacker (left) was unintentionally elbowed by Cahill during the first half

He received lengthy treatment from the Gunners medics before being replaced by new signingĀ Sead Kolasinac.


The injury looked to put the German's involvement in Friday's Premier League opener against Leicester at risk.

But manager Arsene Wenger was quick to calm those fears after lifting the first piece of silverware of the season.Ā Ā 

'I will have to speak to the medical staff about that but it doesnā€™t look too bad,' the Frenchman told BT Sport.Ā 

Mertesacker, too, looked in good spirits as he celebrated his team's penalty shootout victory after the game.Ā 

The 32-year-old looked in good spirits as he celebrated the team's shootout victory

The 32-year-old looked in good spirits as he celebrated the team's shootout victory

Mertesacker lifts the trophy with Olivier Giroud, Laurent Koscielny andĀ Gabriel Paulista

Mertesacker lifts the trophy with Olivier Giroud, Laurent Koscielny andĀ Gabriel Paulista