• Premier League

Mertesacker: Arsenal must improve defensively

ESPN staff
October 20, 2012

Per Mertesacker has warned his Arsenal team-mates that they must tighten up on their defence if they are to challenge for silverware this season.

Having begun the season with three successive clean sheets in the league, the Gunners have now conceded in their last five after they slumped to a 1-0 defeat to Norwich at Carrow Road.

Former Arsenal defender Steve Bould, who was part of the formidable back four alongside Tony Adams, Nigel Winterburn and Lee Dixon in the 1990s, has replaced Pat Rice as assistant manager this season, with the view to shoring up the Gunners' backline.

But despite allowing West Ham and Norwich through in back-to-back matches, Mertesacker believes Bould's influence has seen a shift in attitude towards defence.

"He was a good defender and he is very very focused on details," Mertesacker told ESPN. "More on the defence but the defence means the whole XI, it is not only the back four or the centre backs, he is focused on our defensive game, in total.

"We have good combinations and passing sessions in our game but if we lose the ball we have to switch on straight after and quickly so we have to make sure the defence is one of the most vital things in the game."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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