The Gunners have endured a tough start to the season and have won only three out of their nine league games this season. Mertesacker has provided a blunt assessment of the team’s performances so far and admits they need to work harder on the training pitch.

He said, “We are not at our best. Football-wise we lack a few things. We have to be honest to ourselves and train harder. Everyone knows that it is a difficult start to the season for us and confidence is not how we want it. Again, it is away from home on Saturday and again I think we have to do better with our own possession, to put more pressure on them [opponents], not to lose so many balls in the middle of the park, to play more in wide areas.”

“I think it is better to expose them there, instead of playing one-twos through the middle. It doesn’t work as much as last season, so we have to work on that. The passing game is not as efficient as last year. But all of a sudden we lose players week-by-week.”

The 30-year-old was also critical of his own performances and has shockingly revealed he is still not fully focussed on the Gunners after his World Cup euphoria, according to the Telegraph.

He went on to say, “For me personally, it is difficult at the moment because that was really a long season last year, and to come back from the World Cup and get the motivation back – I am nearly back – but you can feel there is something missing at the moment.”

“It’s a bit of everything. Such a long season last year, without a winter break, and with a World Cup. That is nearly 100 days ago, so I think it is time to raise the game, raise the mentality, to come back and just think about Arsenal. It is going to start, the season is going to start.