Thursday 21 April 2016 15:26, UK
Per Mertesacker insists criticism of Arsene Wenger and the Arsenal players has left the squad determined to end the season on a high.
Arsenal were top of the Premier League table in January and in the Champions League and FA Cup, but a poor run of form saw them eliminated from both cup competitions while they now sit 13 points behind league leaders Leicester.
The Gunners face West Brom at the Emirates on Thursday, live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 7pm, and Mertesacker believes Arsenal can win their final five matches if they stick together.
When asked if criticism makes the team keen to prove doubters wrong, the defender told Sky Sports News HQ: "Certainly. It has never been different. There have always been rumours and always been criticism, but the group is always strongest when we stick to each other.
"We went through a difficult period in my time at Arsenal in these years, and we always came back stronger. The one thing we missed out was to be consistent over the season.
"That is a criticism we have to face and I have no doubt the group will grow, even when everyone expected us to win something this year.
"I think as long as the team is still hungry, still wants to go for it, that's going to be the key. As long as we keep that, we have the opportunity to get 15 points out of the five games. Then let's see what the outcome is."
A 1-1 draw at home to Crystal Palace has left Arsenal in a battle to secure a top-four finish, and Mertesacker, who slammed his team's indiscipline on Tuesday, believes their attacking philosophy has cost them at times this season.
"We are team that likes to play forward, likes to play an offensive style," he added. "We like to play to keep ourselves in positions where we get into the next attack, but we have to be more cautious about coming back and being behind the ball together.
"We missed a lot of chances. We've had a lot of opportunities throughout this season to be in a better position.
"Those are regrets we do have, but still it's very difficult to look back at the minute and think, 'we were in top spot'. We just have to go for it now, there is no other solution for us."
Watch Arsenal v West Brom live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 7pm, or watch live for £6.99 without a contract, on NOW TV.
