Arsenal star takes responsibility for team’s improved attitude

Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker says that it is his responsibility to make the club’s players want it more.

Speaking before the Gunners take on Everton this weekend, Mertesacker reflected on the disastrous defeat against Watford, when his side were 1-0 up but lost 2-1 late on after an awful second-half display.

The German had a different opinion to Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger and Jack Wilshere, when he claimed that his team-mates need to start being better prepared mentally for games.

“Even if you’re exhausted, even if it’s a game where you think you have to make every single step possible to avoid chances, you do it,” Mertesacker told Arsenal Player.

“They [Watford] were coming for us and were having a real go at us.

“Then you need numbers, you need players in the box and players wanting to defend that goal. We lacked that, totally, especially on that second goal.

“I need to do a better job in preparing our players, especially mentally to go that extra step.

“That needs to be done beforehand. Afterwards is easy because anyone can judge us on that performance and can criticise.

“That’s fair play, but we as players and me as captain need to make sure we are aware of that before the game, not afterwards.”