Published: 25 February, 2016
by STEVE BARNETT

PER Mertesacker is urging team-mates to “forget about Barcelona” and focus on their Premier League title challenge ahead of this Sunday’s trip to Old Trafford. 

Lionel Messi all but condemned the Gunners to a Champions League exit on Tuesday when he scored twice at the Emirates Stadium to hand the La Liga champions a 2-0 first-leg advantage. 

It was a result that Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said puts the Spanish side “95 per cent” through, and with the second-leg more than two weeks away, Mertesacker says now it’s important to concentrate on domestic matters. Arsenal are currently third in the Premier League, level on points with north London rivals Tottenham and only two points off leaders Leicester City. 

They face a struggling Manchester United side this weekend knowing that only a victory will help the fans get over the midweek disappointment. 

“We have never felt sorry for ourselves this season, particularly when we have lost a game,” said Mertesacker “We have only tried to bounce back as quickly as we could. 

“I think we have a great chance on Sunday to do that again and to show we are still in a strong position and still competing for the title. 

“We defended so well over 70 to 80 minutes against Barcelona and then got punished twice. It was obviously a disappointing ending,” 

Mertesacker believes that if he and his team-mates defend like they did for over an hour against Barcelona then they can get the three-points they need on Sunday. “Now we must focus fully on our next match,” he added. 

“We go to Manchester because we want to compete for the Premier League title. 

“We are in a good position and we don’t want to give that position up. Sunday it is a great chance to forget about what happened in the last 20 minutes against Barcelona and just focus on all the things that went well.”