Arsenal feel the pressure to win silverware

Arsene Wenger admits Per Mertesacker’s knee injury means Arsenal are back in the market for a defender, as chief executive Ivan Gazidis accepts the club is feeling the pressure to win a major trophy.

Mertesacker suffered the knee problem in Friday’s pre-season draw with Lens and did not travel with the squad for two friendlies in the US.

“We have bad news on Per Mertesacker,” Wenger confirmed, ahead of today’s clash with the MLS All-Stars.