Published: 10 January, 2013
by STEVE BARNETT

PER Mertesacker insists his Arsenal team-mates are “always looking to win something” but believes it’s time to do their talking on the pitch.

The towering defender, who was cast as the giant in Jack in the Beanstalk at the club’s Junior Gunners Funday, was part of the line-up that was held to a 2-2 draw away at Swansea on Sunday in the FA Cup.

With the replay at the Emirates looming on Wednesday, Arsene Wenger’s side are also still vying for a top-four finish in the Premier League and face a mouth-watering tie against German giants Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

Mertesacker believes there is enough quality in the Arsenal squad to be successful this season, and that it’s time to just get on with tackling every game as it comes. He said: “At this stage of the season, you have to be consistent. We are in a good way but we have to keep our focus on our upcoming games. We have to win those games now.

“We are always looking to win something and we can achieve something with this group. We have a lively group so our thoughts are now on the next match. That’s the most important thing for us, not what’s going to happen in May.

“We have a few targets in our team that are possible this year. We won’t talk about it, we’ll just see what happens in the next few important weeks on the pitch.”

Midfielder Jack Wilshere echoed Mertesacker’s views that Arsenal can win silverware this season, adding that if they do it could be the start of something special.

“When you finish a career, you look back and see how many trophies you have won so we all want them and we know how much the fans do too,” he said. “We’re all hungry for it and maybe if we get a trophy this year it can open the way for a few more. In the next couple of years we can really build something strong.”