Per Mertesacker urges Arsenal to show title credentials
Tuesday 21 July 2015 16:34, UK
Per Mertesacker has challenged Arsenal to prove they can be genuine Premier League title contenders this season.
But the Gunners vice-captain has also warned his side that they will need to avoid making another slow start to a campaign to stand any chance of maintaining a successful challenge for their first league crown since 2004.
A poor start to the 2014/15 season - one which produced only two wins from the opening eight Premier League matches - ultimately cost Arsene Wenger's side in the title race. They would recover to end as the form side of 2015 on the way to securing third place and lifting the FA Cup at Wembley for the second year running.
"We need to be at our best. We have shown in the [FA] Cup that we can be consistent for six games. We want to extend that and show that we are real title contenders from the start, not only in the second half of the season," Mertesacker told Arsenal Player.
"We want to be ready right from the start and not getting as many injuries as last season would be lovely and good for us.
"The belief is still there - we always had a certain belief in ourselves - and to win trophies back to back is something special, but let's add that little extra to be a competitor for the whole season."
The Gunners continued their preparations for the new season by claiming the Barclays Asia Trophy in Singapore, defeating Everton 3-1 in Saturday's final.
New summer signing Petr Cech made his Arsenal debut following his £10m move from Chelsea in that match, with Theo Walcott, Santi Cazorla and Mesut Ozil all on target in their win over Roberto Martinez's side.
Following the successful pre-season trip to the Far East, Mertesacker lauded the strength of the Gunners' squad and believes Wenger has assembled a group of players now capable of holding their own against the likes of Chelsea and the Manchester clubs.
"We have a good structure and a good base. We will try to build on that," the Germany World Cup winner added.
"We have a good squad, we won't lose key players, so that's good consistency.
"The squad will be in a good mood and in good fitness. We have to be because there are plenty of competitors for the title."
