Petr Cech's hunger is Arsenal's driving force this campaign - Mertesacker

Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker has identified
Petr Cech's hunger as the driving force behind
the Gunners' ambition this season.
Cech kept a sixth clean sheet in 11 Premier
League games as Arsenal swept aside Swansea
3-0 at the Liberty Stadium to keep pace with
league leaders Manchester City.
The 33-year-old has made a smooth transition to
life at Arsenal after 11 trophy-filled years at
Chelsea, while his former club are suffering a
disastrous season with Jose Mourinho's position
coming under increasing scrutiny.
"You know that if they get a really clear chance
Petr can do something about it,'' Mertesacker said
after Cech had thwarted Swansea before Arsenal
took command in south Wales.
"He's always someone who can save your day.
That gives everyone a big lift, not only the back
four. The way he is commanding and vocal makes
him vital. He is one of our leaders and he deserves
it.
"He has played at a high level and he is still very
hungry and, no matter how successful he was at
Chelsea, I think he gives our team that hunger we
maybe need.
"He is an experienced player that everyone looks
up to and he's important for our structure as
well.''
Arsenal secured a fifth straight league win
through second half goals from Olivier Giroud --
the 2,000th of manager Arsene Wenger's 19-year
reign -- Laurent Koscielny and Joel Campbell's first
for the club.
Withstanding Swansea's impressive opening
provided further evidence that Arsenal are ready
to mount a title challenge this season, and
German veteran Mertesacker feels the Gunners
are stronger for their past disappointments.
"We haven't proved anything yet but what we
have learned is to take it game by game,''
Mertesacker said. "The last couple of years we
have lost a few games here and there, especially
away from home.
"But we take it really seriously because we can
see there is not that much difference between
the top and us. Last season I think it was 15
points at this stage and now it's completely
different.
"It gives you a reason to be as efficient as we are
at the minute.''
Arsenal head to Germany next with a crunch
Champions League game at Bayern Munich on
Wednesday night.
Bundesliga leaders Bayern suffered their only
defeat of the season at the Emirates Stadium two
weeks ago, and Arsenal need another positive
result in Bavaria after shock opening group
defeats to Dinamo Zagreb and Olympiacos.
"They will be angry,'' Mertesacker said. "We are
the first team that really challenged them and
beat them at the end, so they will try to show
they are better than us.
"They played on Friday to get well prepared for
the midweek -- the Germans are clever! But we
improved our position in the last game against
Munich and we need to get something out of this
game.
"That puts pressure on us to perform and we
need to defend even better.''


Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN