Published: 7 March, 2013
by STEVE BARNETT

TOWERING defender Per Mertesacker is urging his Arsenal team-mates to use their extended break from action wisely and find a way to end the season on a high.

Sunday’s 2-1 north London derby defeat at Tottenham was the latest in a string of disappointing results for the Gunners, who now don’t play again until they face Bayern Munich in the Champions League on March 13.

Mertesacker wants the players to use the gap in their fixtures to reflect on the defeat at White Hart Lane and find a plan to help the struggling club end the campaign strongly.

“We are disappointed because we looked good for the first 35 minutes against Tottenham,” he told Arsenal Player. “We were solid at the back, played high up but couldn’t manage both situations where they scored.

“It was strange. After we scored we couldn’t put them under the pressure that was maybe needed to score again. There were a few chances on either side, but it was very disappointing the way we played after we scored.

“After that it is strange to think about it, but we need this breather now. We have a break before the next game and we have to think about our situation.

“Of course there is potential, but we have to show that on the pitch. That is what is needed over the next few weeks: to go to Munich and take our chance there, then we have to take care of the league and go for all the points.”

Fellow defender Carl Jenkinson has already come up with one plan: simply get as many points on the board as possible.

The right-back said: “There are 10 games left and there are plenty of points to play for. I think in a couple of days’ time, we’ll get our head around this and realise that we’ve bridged a gap like that before and can do it again.

“We will be positive and we will come back from this. Tottenham are our rivals but we’ll get over it, we’ll be positive.

“We’ve just got to work our socks off because we need to be in that top four at the bare minimum.”