MAKE OR BREAK
Title hopes rest on winter form, says Mertesacker
PER MERTESACKER has challenged his Arsenal team-mates to kick on through the season-defining winter period and demonstrate the consistency needed to win the Premier League.
The German defender has won the FA Cup in the last two seasons and is determined Arsenal end what will be a 12-year wait for the title. Arsene Wenger’s side are in touch with the leaders and face a critical period, starting with today’s visit to Norwich, then five fixtures in three weeks over Christmas and New Year. They also face a make-or-break match away to Olympiacos on December 9 as they bid to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League for the 16th consecutive campaign.
Arsenal have been in strong positions approaching the turn of the year before only to capitulate when the pressure mounts in the run-in, but Mertesacker believes such experiences have made them stronger. ‘We always build up to something and now it’s time to prove we are capable of doing something,’ he said. ‘Doing great things means winning something where you need to be consistent for more than six games.
‘The top three or four is always a good position and obviously it’s tighter than last season, making it more interesting for everyone. We want to be involved until the end, that’s the target. We’ve improved from last season and that’s why we are looking forward to the next couple of weeks as they are defining weeks for the team.
‘The winter period is always important to put pressure on the other teams. In the upcoming games, we will take it really seriously and not drop points any more. How united can we be throughout the Premier League season and how consistent can we be? It’s a challenge and a good challenge, so we think we are well prepared.’
The festive fixture list presents varied challenges for Arsenal. They play Sunderland, Aston Villa, Bournemouth and Newcastle but must also face Manchester City at home and Southampton away. But in the most open title race for years, Arsenal have gained encouragement from Chelsea’s disastrous start, United’s lack of attacking verve and City’s surprise defeats.
After falling to early losses to West Ham and Chelsea, Arsenal responded by winning the following week and Mertesacker believes this is key as they head to Carrow Road after a loss at West Brom. He said: ‘There are always periods when you have to respond very quickly to disappointments if you want to keep up with the best teams. If that happens too often, you have no chance.
‘It looks like all the teams at the top are well prepared but everyone gets a setback from time to time, so there’s a massive chance we’d like to take. But we can only do it by doing our jobs, being well prepared as a team and when there are disappointments, not to blame ourselves too much, look ahead to the next game and try and get a better performance out of everyone.’
Arsenal are trying to maintain their winning form amidst an injury crisis that sees them without the likes of Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jack Wilshere, Mikel Arteta, Francis Coquelin and Danny Welbeck. But Mertesacker knows Arsenal have been in such a position before and must rise above the problems. He said: ‘We suffer but it’s a mentality of the group to come back from this crisis. We get young players in who give us a great lift so we take the positives out of it. Everyone tries to do their job really seriously even in difficult periods.’