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Per Mertesacker delivers a damning verdict on Arsenal's defending as they fight for Champions League spot

Football

By Mirror | Apr 18, 2016

Mertesacker claimed the Gunners aren't desperate enough to stop their rivals scoring against them and admitted it is “obvious” where they are going wrong

Per Mertseacker has delivered a damning verdict on Arsenal 's defending.

Vice-captain Mertesacker claimed the Gunners aren't desperate enough to stop their rivals scoring against them and admitted it is “obvious” where they are going wrong.

Arsenal's latest attempt to win the league is all but over after an untimely slump during the last two months.

Arsene Wenger 's side started 2016 top of the table but have won just two of their last seven league games and gone from being two points leaders Leicester in February to a huge 13 points off the pace.

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Their title bid has been undermined by some of their defending, a familiar failing that has been highlighted in the last two games.

They were terrorised by Andy Carroll who scored a hat-trick against Arsenal last week to earn West Ham a 3-3 draw.

And the finger of blame was mainly pointed at keeper Petr Cech after they conceded a sloppy late equaliser against Crystal Palace to drop two more points on Sunday.

Arsenal have conceded the most goals of the sides currently in the top four and also scored the least.

And centre-back Mertesacker, relegated to the bench in recent weeks, said: “It's about discipline. We lacked a bit of that desperation, even when we were 2-0 up at West Ham, to defend and get everyone behind the ball.

"To come back to that level is absolutely important in the Premier League, and if you don't you will get punished.

"These details are very important to us and everyone can see it, it is obvious.”

Mathematically, fourth-placed Arsenal can still win the league with five games to left.

But retaining their top four spot and trying to avoid finishing below arch-rivals Tottenham, who are five points above the Gunners, for the first time since 1995 are more realistic targets.

Wenger admitted his side are now facing a battle to retain their top four spot, with Manchester United breathing down their necks, four points behind.

Mertesacker said: “We want to win every single match now, to put teams in front of us under pressure.

"These details are very important to us and everyone can see it, it is obvious.”

Mathematically, fourth-placed Arsenal can still win the league with five games to left.

But retaining their top four spot and trying to avoid finishing below arch-rivals Tottenham, who are five points above the Gunners, for the first time since 1995 are more realistic targets.

Wenger admitted his side are now facing a battle to retain their top four spot, with Manchester United breathing down their necks, four points behind.

Mertesacker said: “We want to win every single match now, to put teams in front of us under pressure.