Arsenal captain Per Mertesacker sits with the pilot as the Gunners stop off in Dubai on their way to pre-season tour of Australia
- Arsenal captain Per Mertesacker sat with the pilot during a tour flight stop-off
- The Gunners are travelling to Sydney for the first leg of their pre-season tour
- Mertesacker sat at the controls as the plane made a refueling stop in Dubai
Arsenal captain Per Mertesacker will be hoping to play a greater role in piloting the team towards success next season, having missed almost the entirety of the last campaign through injury.
But on Monday he was trying his hand at being a captain of a different kind as the Gunners travel to Australia for their pre-season tour.
Mertesacker sat up front with the pilot as the plane stopped over in Dubai on its way Down Under, with Arsenal to play a series of friendly fixtures.
Arsenal captain Per Mertesacker sits with the pilot during a stop-off on the way to Australia
The Gunners are travelling to Sydney for two games in the first leg of their pre-season tour
Mertesacker got to sit at the controls as the plane made a refueling stop in Dubai
The big German defender got to sit in the pilot's seat, handle the controls of the plane, and pose with a captain's salute.
Fortunately for his team mates, Mertesacker was not in control while the plane was in the air - it was firmly on the tarmac in the Middle East.
At the same time, manager Arsene Wenger posed for a picture in front of the plane while wearing a Hi Viz jacket - a move which will have pleased Emirates airlines, sponsors of Arsenal.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger poses in front of the plane on the tarmac
Arsenal are taking a 25-man squad to Australia and China, including Alexandre Lacazette
After playing twice in Sydney, the Gunners go to China to face Bayern Munich and Chelsea
Arsenal are taking a 25-man team down to Sydney, including new £53million signing, striker Alexandre Lacazette.
They will play two fixtures against local A-League sides, Sydney and Western Sydney Wanderers.
Following this, the Gunners will fly to China, and play friendlies against Bayern Munich in Shanghai and Chelsea in Beijing.
They then round off their pre-season with the traditional Emirates Cup, against Benfica and Sevilla.
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