Per Mertesacker: Pre-season success can provide the platform for Arsenal’s Premier League title charge

 

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Good foundations: Mertesacker targets success in Asia
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 11: Per Mertesacker of Arsenal during the match between Arsenal and Swansea City in the Barclays Premier League at Emirates Stadium on May 11, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Simon Johnson10 July 2015

Per Mertesacker believes winning the Barclays Asia trophy can provide Arsenal with the foundations for a stronger title challenge next term.

Arsenal leave for the four-team tournament, which is being held in Singapore, this weekend.

They will play a Singapore Select XI on Wednesday and should they win as expected, will face either Everton or Stoke in the final on July 18th.

Mertesacker feels the next few weeks is of huge significance to Arsenal, who haven't won the League since 2004.

He said: "It is good to have such competitive games in the Far East. It says everything about the Premier League and how big the fanbase is for each team, not only Arsenal.

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"Pre-season will be very important for us. We have no winter break so we can only be together like this once all season.

"It's really good to have such good games, you want to prepare well and by winning games, the confidence will get even better. It can be important."

Arsenal players return for pre-season training

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Manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed a 27-man squad will make the trip, although Alexis Sanchez, David Ospina, Tomas Rosicky, Danny Welbeck and Serge Gnabry have not been included due to either injury or being granted extended time off following international commitments.

Wenger added: "It's always a good experience to be together for a while and to get the group bonding during the period away from home.

"It has many advantages and Singapore is not too big as well so travelling won't be too difficult. That's a positive."

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