Per Mertesacker: 'Arsenal future looks bright'

Per Mertesacker has insisted that Arsenal stand in good stead for the future, thanks to the first-team emergence of key youngsters.

The Gunners ended the 2014-15 campaign on a high by claiming the FA Cup trophy to go alongside a third-place finish in the Premier League.

Academy graduates Hector Bellerin and Francis Coquelin are among those to have played their part last time out, which Mertesacker believes offers plenty of positives looking ahead to the future.

"When you get some young players in and they get time to play, that is unusual for normal seasons but they hit the ground running from the start and you saw the potential," he told the club's official website.

"Not only potential, they executed it and that is something you want to see."

Mertesacker made 48 appearances for Arsenal last season in all competitions.