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LONDON. — Per Mertesacker has expressed his disappointment at losing his starting berth at Arsenal, but the big German centre-back vows to keep fighting and remain professional.

The 31-year-old last featured in the 2-1 FA Cup loss at the hands of Watford on March 13 with Gabriel and Laurent Koscielny favoured by manager Arsene Wenger since.

Mertesacker has taken a watching brief from the substitutes bench for Arsenal’s past three matches, but while the Germany international says he’s never been in such a situation before, he insists he’s doing everything in his power to get back into the Gunners’ team.

“I have to admit that this is something new to me. I have been around for quite a while and this has not happened to me before. I am fully match fit, but I am not playing as much as before,” Mertesacker told Sport1. — Goal.com.