Arsenal vs Liverpool: Per Mertesacker rested and in rhythm for Reds clash

Per Mertesacker insists that Arsenal will be perfectly ready to face Liverpool at the Emirates on Saturday in spite of the international break threatening to break their momentum.

The Gunners are on a six-game winning streak in the league and need to keep up their current form if they have to open up some breathing space between themselves and the teams below them for a place in the top four.

The north London club are currently third in the table, one point behind Manchester City and one ahead of Manchester United. A win will take them second for the time being while a loss will allow United to leapfrog them into second when they take on Aston Villa later in the day.

Mertesacker was relegated to the bench against Newcastle United in their last game while Gabriel was stationed beside Laurent Koscielny, which gives them some pace in the backline for them to press high up the pitch.

A similar situation can arise today, especially with Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Sterling's pace a major headache for Arsenal's defence and will be difficult for Mertesacker to cope, something that Arsene Wenger may have learnt from their 5-1 thrashing at Anfield last season.

"It's a good break to switch off mentally but to find the form again and the rhythm is the next step after a couple of days' break," Mertesacker told Arsenal's official website.

"The training was really intensive and that is really good for you to realise that you are back on track, and that a really important game is coming up.

"The focus is on training and to realise that we are back in the Premier League – it makes you feel much better and much more focused.

"It is still very tight and we want to compete for that secure Champions League spot. We closed the gap between us and Manchester City, so now we try to create some space between us and the teams below us.

"It's always a big battle. Let's really focus on ourselves, continue our great run and, as we've done in recent years, ensure that we always finish strong. That gives yourself confidence and the respect from the other teams to do it again and again," he added.