Wenger gets into bizarre exchange with reporter over his future
Arsene Wenger has major problems ahead of Saturday's clash at Wembley with Laurent Koscielny suspended and Shkodran Mustafi yet to train after illness.
Gabriel has also been ruled out for up to eight weeks with a knee ligament injury, while Kieran Gibbs is not yet back in training after a thigh problem.
The Arsenal boss is toying with a switch to four at the back – but if Mustafi does not make it he is more likely to start with Mertesacker in a back three.
That would be a huge gamble because the 32-year-old has not started a game for more than a year and last played 90 minutes in April 2016 in a 0-0 draw with Sunderland.
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Arsene Wenger may opt to play Per Mertesacker from the start
But Wenger may have no choice if Mustafi does not recover in time.
Wenger said: “Will I start with Per? I don’t know as he has not played 90 minutes for a long time. I have not made up my mind yet. He has the leadership qualities, so it depends a little bit on the system I will go for, the system I will choose.”
Mertesacker made his first appearance of the season when he came off the bench in Sunday’s win over Everton.
But Wenger admits losing Gabriel to injury and Koscielny to suspension was a hammer blow ahead of the final.
He said: “It just shows you how unpredictable football can be because we lost two centre-backs. It’s absolutely unbelievable.
“We have been hit hard in a position where we will need to be strong on Saturday. We’ll have to find solutions and hopefully I will find the good solutions.”
Wenger insists he has not yet made up his mind on whether to start with Cech or David Ospina between the sticks.
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Per Mertesacker has not completed 90 minutes in over a year
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Ospina played in the earlier rounds but the smart money is on Cech getting the nod after he started the semi-final win over Manchester City.
Wenger, who will have Alexis Sanchez and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain available after injury scares, continues to insist that his future remains up in the air.
Asked whether this could be his last game at Arsenal, he said: “It’s not about me, it’s about us winning the trophy and giving absolutely everything to achieve it.”
