Per Mertesacker has opened talks with Arsenal about a new contract.
The Germany international is in discussions with club chiefs about signing a deal that will tie him to Emirates Stadium beyond his current agreement, which expires in 2015.
Arsenal have indicated they will offer Mertesacker, who turned 29 last month, a new three-year contract starting from the end of the season.
This would tie the defender to the club until the summer of 2017, by which time he will be 32.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has sanctioned an extension for the German following the growing success of his centre-back partnership with Laurent Koscielny.
Mertesacker joined Arsenal from Werder Bremen for £8 million (€9.45m) on transfer deadline day in August 2011.
