Arsenal fixtures: Per Mertesacker tells Gunners team-mates to 'keep their chins up' ahead of daunting run when they face Liverpool twice, Bayern Munich and Manchester United

Nightmare sequence of tough fixtures await the Gunners

Per Mertesacker has challenged his Arsenal team-mates ahead of their daunting next run of fixtures (Getty Images)

Per Mertesacker has rallied his Arsenal team-mates ahead of their upcoming crucial run of fixtures which will define their season.

Over the next eight weeks, the Gunners will play Liverpool twice, Bayern Munich twice, plus Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City but the German defender has told his team-mates to "keep their chins up" ahead of the daunting sequence.

"It's that part of the season when you might tired or exhausted," Mertesacker told arsenal.com. "But we have to keep our chins up and now the really important games are coming.

"We have interesting games in the FA Cup, Champions League and Premier League. We have played well this season so far, and we have to keep that level [up]."

The 29-year-old was talking after Arsenal's 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace on Sunday, which took the Gunners back to the top of the Premier League with Manchester City not playing again until Monday night. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, whose campaign has been blighted by injury, scored both of the goals in his first league start since the opening day of the season, and Mertesacker says that the England midfielder will become an important player for the team in the second half of the season.

"He had a great impact [in the match]," Mertesacker said. "His season starts from now on.

"We really appreciate that he is back and he will play a good part in our season. He deserved to be man of the match."

Arsenal’s next run of fixtures:

8 February: Liverpool (away), Premier League

12 February: Manchester United (home), Premier League

16 February: Liverpool (home), FA Cup

19 February: Bayern Munich (home), Champions League

22 February: Sunderland (home), Premier League

1 March: Stoke City (away), Premier League

8 March: Swansea City (home), Premier League

11 March: Bayern Munich (away), Champions League

15 March: Tottenham Hotspur (away), Premier League

22 March: Chelsea (away), Premier League

29 March: Manchester City (home), Premier League

5 April: Everton (away), Premier League