Per Mertesacker warns Arsenal teammates: 'We need to raise our game'

Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker has criticised the team's performance against Anderlecht, insisting that they need to "raise their game" after throwing away a three-goal lead.

The Gunners squandered the chance to qualify for the knockout rounds of the Champions League after Anderlecht fought back to secure a 3-3 draw at the Emirates last night.

"That was a good warning that everyone should raise their game and give maybe 10% when it is needed," the London Evening Standard quotes Mertesacker as saying.

"When we drop sometimes everyone has to be involved to defend. You can't afford for just five or six players to defend, or just the back four. That is what we lacked especially in the final third and in the last 20 minutes. We have to defend better as a team."

In the Premier League, the North London outfit sit fourth in the table, nine points behind leaders Chelsea.