Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has claimed that Per Mertesacker will miss the rest of the season through injury.

The defender was expected to be sidelined for a lengthy period of time after he injured ankle ligaments against Sunderland last month.

"I believe Per will be out for the rest of the season," Wenger told the club's official website.

"Basically there are only six weeks to go so I don't think he'll be sharp enough to come back and play. He would need to train and get back to full fitness."

Mertesacker joined the Gunners from Werder Bremen in August 2011.