Per Mertesacker: Arsenal are proving the critics wrong
Posted Wednesday, April 08, 2015 by Dailystar.co.uk
PER MERTESACKER claims Arsenal have answered their critics this season.
The Gunners were blasted by fans and former players alike for failing to mount a title challenge earlier this season.
And the storm of criticism only got louder when they crashed out of the Champions League to Monaco.
But Arsenal are now the closest challengers to league leaders Chelsea and have an FA Cup semi final to look forward to.
Mertesacker said: "I am delighted with how the team responded to the criticism that came our way.
"We are in a good position now [but at the start] we suffered a lot of injuries to players who were amazing last season, so we had to replace them with youngsters.
"But there was always good energy because they proved they can deliver good performances for the team and that raised everyone's level. I am delighted with the team's performances throughout the year."
Mertesacker claims Arsenal's poor early-season form came as a result of the World Cup blues.
DELIGHTED: Per Mertesacker is happy Arsenal have recovered after a difficult start
The Gunners had 11 players involved in last summer's finals, including three who returned late after winning it with Germany.
Mertesacker, who was one of them, said: "It is a completely new experience for a lot of players to have post-World Cup difficulties.
"Those who came from the World Cup had no break and no pre-season, we started right in the season and [had to] try to find form.
"A lot of players got injured or weren't in the best form, so it took us a while to be at our top level.
"But the belief and trust of the manager and the inner core of the club has been absolutely amazing.
"This means more to me than what happened in the first few months with the lack of form and the criticism."
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