Per Mertesacker: 'Arsenal must start well against Fenerbahce'

Per Mertesacker has claimed that Arsenal must do their best to silence the Fenerbahce fans during the first leg of their Champions League qualifying playoff.

The Gunners take on the Turkish side tonight ahead of Tuesday's second leg at the Emirates Stadium.

"It is absolutely fantastic over there, so you have to be aware of the opening 20 minutes," Mertesacker told the club's official website. "You have to keep [the home fans] as quiet as possible, which is very hard.

"You have to play consistently over the whole 90 minutes and it is very important to be very focused on the first 15 to 20 minutes. We need to be ready and defend properly."

Arsenal come into the match on the back of Saturday's 3-1 defeat at home to Aston Villa in the Premier League.