Early kick-off can benefit Arsenal says Per Mertesacker

Per Mertesacker: 'People think it’s easy to connect with your club, your team-mates, but it takes time' (Getty Images)

Per Mertesacker has challenged Arsenal to lay down an early marker with victory over Blackburn tomorrow as they look to close back up on the top four.

The Gunners missed the opportunity to capitalise on Chelsea's draw at Swansea when they failed to beat Bolton after a goalless encounter at the Reebok Stadium on Wednesday night.

However, with tomorrow's visit of struggling Rovers moved forwards to a 1pm kick-off because of engineering works on the London Underground, Arsenal could leapfrog both Liverpool and Newcastle, who are not in action until later over the weekend.

"It is an early game and as we are one of the first teams (to play), so we have to go for three points to show the other teams we are there," said the German centre-back.

"We are always looking for clean sheets and good performances.

"We created good chances to score at Bolton, but it wasn't enough. There is a lot of room for improvement.

"We have a very good side with lots of potential but we have to be good on the pitch and we have to use our opportunities."

Midfielder Mikel Arteta knows Arsenal have to consistently produce good performances every week if they are not to fall behind in the race for Champions League qualification, currently trailing Chelsea by five points.

"Hopefully we will get the points on Saturday because we really need them as we have been losing too many in the last few weeks," said the Spaniard.

"We should win the game, like we should have won against Bolton.

"However, Blackburn will make it tough because they are in a relegation battle and you know how hard a team works in that situation."

Arteta added: "It (the race for a top-four place) is going to be tough. We have the talent and quality in the side, but we have to show it game by game.

"I am confident because we train together every day and I know how good we are, but we have to show it every week not every two or three weeks."

Mertesacker took a kick in the face from Kevin Davies towards the end of the Bolton game, but is expected to feature tomorrow.

Bacary Sagna made his first start at full-back since returning from a broken leg suffered at Tottenham in October.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger believes everyone must focus on the pluses after at least bringing to an end their run of three straight league defeats.

"When you come out of the spell we have had not to lose is already positive," he said.

"We have to continue in our next game to produce the kind of game we had at Bolton."

PA