Arsenal's Mertesacker to miss EPL start

Arsenal centreback Per Mertesacker will miss a large chunk of the Gunners' opening to the English Premier League season due to a knee injury.

Manager Arsene Wenger has revealed the German will be out for "a few months" after suffering the injury in a friendly against Lens last week.

The 31-year-old will sit out the pre-season tour of the US which kicks off this weekend against the MLS All-Stars in San Jose, California.

Mertesacker's steback means Wenger may have to rush back Laurent Koscielny, who is resting after helping France reach the Euro 2016 final, for the start of the EPL season.

Gabriel has also missed the US tour with tonsillitis, leaving Calum Chambers as their most experienced centreback.

England Under-21 central defender Rob Holding, 20, joined the club from Bolton Wanderers last week.

Arsenal start their league campaign at home to Liverpool on August 14.