Per Mertesacker: 'Crucial that Arsenal hit back against Everton'

Per Mertesacker has talked up the importance of Arsenal's 5-2 comeback victory against Everton as his side responded to recent criticism.

The Gunners headed to Goodison Park on the back of a 2-1 loss to Watford last time out in the Premier League - their third defeat in eight top-flight outings.

Arsenal were heading towards another reverse when Wayne Rooney fired Everton ahead on Sunday afternoon, but Nacho Monreal levelled up before the break and Mesut Ozil then turned the game around.

Three more goals would follow for the visitors after opposition midfielder Idrissa Gueye saw red, and Mertesacker believes that certain questions have now been answered.

"We started really well, but to go 1-0 down was difficult," he told Sky Sports News. "But we stuck to the game plan and created a lot of chances. We spoke at half time that we needed to execute them better and our guys up top did it, and that was crucial.

"The way Mesut played, created chances and got the goal was crucial. We created chances from the start, we just lacked execution. We knew that they were under pressure and we took advantage.

"We don't need anyone to judge what we do, the only answer you can give is on the pitch. The way we handled the situation away from home was magnificent."

Arsenal move up to fifth in the Premier League table and are now nine points adrift of pacesetters Manchester City, whom they face at the Etihad Stadium in two weeks' time.