Arsenal captain Per Mertesacker may retire this summer after admitting he is 'mentally wasted' after tough season 

• Per Mertesacker suggests he may retire after lifting the FA Cup with Arsenal
• The 32-year-old spent most of the season on the sidelines with a knee injury
• Mertesacker says Arsenal want to keep him at the club in a non-playing capacity 

Per Mertesacker has strongly suggested he could be heading towards retirement this summer after declaring himself 'mentally wasted' and saying he would rather finish his career on a high. 

The 32-year-old missed the vast majority of the season with a knee injury but was still able to put in a stellar performance in the FA Cup final against Chelsea, his one and only start of the campaign.

Despite his lack of action, Arsenal still awarded the German veteran with a one-year contract extension, but that may not stop him from hanging up his boots after a long and arduous career. 

Mertesacker told German TV channel Sport1: 'I recently told him [Wenger] that I am tired, mentally wasted. The first time in my career I thought it makes no sense anymore, that I'll retire. No matter how hard I practiced I didn't get a chance.

'I was extremely lucky with my career and I want to finish on a high. I am motivated, but I cannot play every three days any more. I don't want to stretch my luck.

'At Arsenal you are replaceable so quickly as a player, I don't want to stand in someone's way. Winning the FA Cup was an extreme close which I could not expect.

'Arsenal want to keep hold of me and there are already talks. It will be in the business operations. I will stand on the other side.'

Wenger is expected to be supported by an improved transfer budget this summer and will look to add a new centre-back if Mertesacker does decide to retire.

He could also call upon Calum Chambers, who will return from a season-long loan spell at Middlesbrough having played 24 Premier League games for the relegated outfit.