Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been left frustrated by defender Per Mertesacker's reluctance to use antibiotics for his chest infection.

Mertesacker is set to miss the Gunners' trip to Newcastle United on Saturday due to a viral infection in his chest which also forced him out of Monday's 0-0 draw with Liverpool.

The German has opted against using antibiotics for the infection as it is normally discouraged due to the possibility of germs building up immunity - something that has irked Wenger.

"At the moment he does not get better," Wenger said. "On Wednesday he was not good, we had to send him home, he has a chest infection.

"And the Germans are a bit sceptical of antibiotics, so I don't know sort of medication he is taking, I don't know if he takes antibiotics.

"I hope that he comes in one day soon and says I am perfectly all right."