Mertesacker backs Arsenal to launch title bid

FA Cup hero Per Mertesacker has backed Arsenal to challenge for the Premier League title next year after seeing off Chelsea 2-1 to lift the famous old trophy.

Mertesacker had played just 37 minutes of football this season but with Laurent Koscielny, Gabriel and Shkodran Mustafi all absent he was called up for the Wembley final.

And he led from the front with a man-of-the-match performance against a Chelsea side who comfortable won the Premier League this year.

The German defender though felt the entire Arsenal performance shows they are capable of beating the very best and called for better consistency in the new season.

“This team suffered a lot this season but we’re still able to perform like that,” he said.

“We’re still able to have good performances but consistency was not always the case and that’s something we need to work on.

(Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

“We had an unbeaten run for 20 games earlier in the season and there were a lot of hopes. Then, when you go into that period where you struggle, you find it hard to win games.

“Even when we were out of the Champions League in our final game, we still have a lot to prove and the team wants that challenge, especially for next season.

“It’s going to be a tough one for us but I’m not afraid to say that we still have a good chance in the league.”