Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker "hurt" by Monaco defeat in Champions League

Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker has insisted that he and his teammates will try to overturn their 3-1 deficit to Monaco when they head to France next month.

The performance of Arsene Wenger's side was heavily criticised after they succumbed to defeat at the Emirates in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League tie.

"Overall it's very disappointing for us," Mertesacker told Arsenal Player. " I thought in the second half we exaggerated a bit, looked a bit over motivated at times and they got us on the break.

"That's what we expected, but when you try to come back as quickly as possible, you can make some mistakes. That's what hurt at the end.

"We never give up. That's always the sense of our game, even if the expectations will be low now. It's easy to write us off now but it's just half time. A lot of things can happen over there and we will try."

The second leg is scheduled for March 17.