Per Mertesacker excited by Jack Wilshere return

Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker has revealed his excitement at the prospect of playing alongside Jack Wilshere.

The England international has missed 15 months of action through injury but was listed among the substitutes for the Gunners' 1-0 defeat at Norwich City on Saturday.

Mertesacker moved to the Emirates Stadium last summer and is yet to feature for the club alongside the 20-year-old.

"It would be good to have Jack Wilshere back soon," Mertesacker told the Sunday Express.

"I haven't played with him yet, but I can feel the sense of excitement around the club that he may be close to returning.

"You can sense it everywhere in the place. And I think it would be very good for the English national team."

Wilshere has been capped five times for England.