Per Mertesacker has urged his Arsenal team-mates to regroup and focus on winning all 10 remaining League games in order to secure a top-four finish.
The Gunners are seven points behind third-placed Tottenham and five behind Chelsea to leave Arsene Wenger facing the prospect of a first season without Champions League football since he took charge in 1996.
Everton’s involvement in the FA Cup means this weekend’s League clash has been postponed and so Arsenal do not play again until facing Bayern Munich in Germany on Wednesday week as they bid to overturn a 3-1 deficit in their Champions League last-16 tie.
And Mertesacker, who scored the Gunners’ consolation goal yesterday, believes it is vital they come together as a squad.
“We need this breather now,” he said. “We have 10 days until our next game so we can think about our situation. Of course there is potential but we need to show that.
“That’s what we need in the next few weeks. To go to Munich, to show responsibility for the Champions League, take the chance there and afterwards we have to take care about the League and try to go for all points.”
Arsenal defended adequately for 37 minutes before conceding two quick goals and Mertesacker said the lapses in concentration cannot continue.
“We were good in the beginning but we need to maintain that level and that’s what we are lacking all the time, that consistency over 90 minutes or at least to keep a clean sheet for the first 45 minutes,” said the Germany centre-back.
