Arsene Wenger is set to trigger contract extensions for Per Mertesacker and Santi Cazorla to ensure they remain leaders in his Arsenal dressing room.

The Gunners boss, whose men go to Preston in the FA Cup this weekend, sees the experience of both men as vital - even though they are currently injured - to his rising stars.

Wenger said: “We have an option on both of them and I think we will take it.

“The priority first is as football players but as well for their mental guidance.

"We need to have a balance between youth and experience and they are important in that as well.”

(Image: Arsenal FC via Getty)

(Image: Getty)

Cazorla , has made 180 appearances for the club since joining four years ago, scoring 29 goals and winning two FA Cups.

Club captain Mertesacker, 32, hasn’t played this season since getting injured before the campaign started.

Show Player

The German centre-back has also won two FA Cups and lifted the World Cup with his country in 2014.

Arsene Wenger speaks ahead of Preston trip

Meanwhile, Wenger has called on Granit Xhaka to sort his discipline out.

The Swiss midfielder conceded penalties against Stoke in December and against Bournemouth in the 3-3 draw on Tuesday night.

Wenger said: “He has conceded a few and I agree he has to stop that.

“I think he was unlucky on both occasions. But he has to adapt. Especially on the other night it was a really soft challenge. He was a bit unlucky but he has to correct that.

(Image: REUTERS)

(Image: Arsenal FC via Getty)

Xhaka, however, has fears he will lose a key part of his game if he curbs his enthusiasm.

The 24-year-old’s red card against Swansea in October was his seventh career sending off since April 2014.

But he told the February issue of Four Four Two: “I have been booked many times and received a lot of red cards – that’s what I’m known for – but I am that kind of player.

“If I can’t play that way I lose a lot of my quality. It’s not a question of discipline – my style of play is aggressive, and that means I sometimes get into trouble.”

Asked whether Xhaka’s reputation precedes him, Wenger said: “I don’t think so.

“You can see in his game he is not a dirty player. Overall I am quite happy with his defensive evolution. He is less spectacular in his tackling and he stays more on his feet.

“He uses his body better to win the challenges and his recovery runs are stronger when the ball goes behind him. Before he was a little bit in the moon. He is much more focussed defensively than before. He has improved a lot on that front.”