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Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker upbeat on chances of Champions League progression

Per Mertesacker of Arsenal heads the ball away from Marko Rog of Zagreb during the match in the UEFA Champions League on November 24 2015
Image: Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker (left) of Arsenal heads the ball away from Marko Rog of Dinamo Zagreb

Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker remains confident they can progress to the knockout stages of the Champions League after their 3-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb on Tuesday.

Victory for the Gunners at the Emirates coupled with Bayern Munich's 4-0 win over Olympiakos means the Gunners go into their final group stage with the Greek side knowing victory by a two-goal margin would see them advance to the knock-out stage in the competition.

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Arsene Wenger gave his reaction after Arsenal kept their Champions League hopes alive by beating Dinamo Zagreb 3-0 at the Emirates

That situation is more than Arsene Wenger could have hoped for after they lost three of their four previous Group F matches ahead of the win over Dinamo Zagreb and Mertesacker is in positive mood.

"We believe and before the game we knew we were capable of doing special things," Mertesacker said.

"We dropped a lot of points which is disappointing but there is still a chance so we believe. It is a nightmare how we played the first two games.

"We have to face the truth and that is that we have to score more than one goal against Olympiakos."

Mesut Ozil of Arsenal (r) celebrates scoring his side's first goal with Per Mertesacker during the UEFA Champions League match against Dinamo Zagreb
Image: Mertesacker (left) celebrates with goalscorer Mesut Ozil during during the 3-0 victory over Zagreb

Mertesacker believes Olympiakos will be under pressure as they can afford to lose by the odd goal - as long as Arsenal score less than three - and still progress past the group stages.

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"We have a good chance," he added. We believe that we can score goals. You saw that we are always capable of doing that.

"Let's go there without fear, respect our opponent but keep patient until the end."

Arsenal face Norwich in the Premier League as part of Super Sunday. Coverage begins on Sky Sports 1 at 4pm after West Ham v West Brom.

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