Per Mertesacker: Arsenal can repeat 2-0 Bayern win from last season

Per Mertesacker

Per Mertesacker has promised Arsenal fans that the defeat to Bayern Munich will not derail their season again, with Arsenal so often having all ambitions crushed within a short space of time in previous seasons. (simmer down – Ed)

Arsenal surrendered their position at the top of the Premier League after two poor results against Liverpool and Manchester United, and now look all-but out of the Champions League after slipping to a 2-0 defeat against Bayern Munich, courtesy of goals from Toni Kroos and Thomas Muller.

They do remain in the FA Cup after avenging their 5-1 defeat to Liverpool and Mertesacker is sure that this defeat will not cause a collapse that has become all too familiar with the Gunners.

The German centre-back told reporters from the Evening Standard: ”Our team has great spirit and will come back from this.

“We have to switch on quickly again against Sunderland in an important game in the Premier League. We are going through a period with a lot of games, so we switch off from the Champions League now and turn our focus to Saturday.”

Mertesacker felt Arsenal’s task became nigh-on impossible upon Wojciech Szczesny’s sending off for a professional foul, but claims that the tie is not yet over as Arsenal could repeat their 2-0 victory at the Allianz Arena last year.

“It is a blow, but why can’t we repeat what happened last year?

“We started really well last night and deserved one goal at least, but we dropped back after the red card and our task was even more difficult. With ten men it is absolutely impossible to create chances, so we tried to defend.

“We kept our defensive spirit for nearly 90 minutes, but you remember Munich are a fantastic team, they play possession very well.”

Per Mertesacker has completed 93% of his passes in the Premier League this season, the highest in the division – shared by defensive partner Laurent Koscielny.