Arsenal have 'good chance' of winning title, says Per Mertesacker

Per Mertesacker says Arsenal still have a 'good chance' of winning the Premier League title after Saturday's 4-0 win over Watford.

The victory keeps Arsene Wenger's side 11 points adrift of leaders Leicester, with a game in hand, but Mertesacker believes the gap can be closed in the final eight games of the campaign.

"It's not totally over yet," the World Cup winner told German website sport1.de. "If we win all of our matches, then we've got a good chance.

"We've got to keep focusing on that and that's why we're taking things game by game. We're trying to concentrate fully on our next game against West Ham. We have a bit more time now that we're not in any other competition so we don't have to concentrate on anything else, other than the title."

Mertesacker will hope he can be involved in Arsenal's title run-in after playing second fiddle to Gabriel Paulista in the last three games.

"I've got to admit it is new to me," he said. "I've been around a long time now and this has not so often been the case, but I'm in good spirits, am fit and I have no pain. Of course I'm playing less, but I'm sticking at it. Maybe I'll get another chance. Things change quickly nowadays.

"You get ups and downs as a footballer and you've just got to remain professional, and I've always been that down the years. That's why I've survived for so long in this business. I listen closely to what the coach says and he knows that he can count on me, no matter what happens.

"I want to show him in every training session that I'm ready when needed. The team needs every player, whether I'm on the bench now or not - I don't just write it off. I always look ahead positively and that is the best way to get over the disappointment of not playing."