Mikel Merino says Arsenal need to “love the pressure” they are now under in the title race.
Arsenal are nine points adrift of Premier League leaders Liverpool after drawing with Chelsea last weekend.
No team in Premier League history has gone on to win the title from such a position and Arsenal will be in the spotlight when they return to action next week by hosting Nottingham Forest.
But Merino believes he and the rest of the Gunners squad need to embrace that pressure as they bid to turn their season around.
“I think you have to enjoy that,” he said. “I think if you want to be in a big club, if you want to achieve big things, you have to love the pressure.
“You have to love playing against the best and for the biggest trophies. The mentality that these players have is to try to be the best, every single day, every training session.
“That says a lot about this team, but it is not only about wanting to do it. You have to show it. We are showing it in training sessions, we have to show it in games as well. And, for sure, I think we will.
“We have to look at the positives. We have to look at ourselves, at how we want to perform, and not start thinking about what is going to happen if we lose. That’s adding extra pressure.
“We know we have to win every game. We know that. We want that and we have to work for that - and in order to achieve that we have to focus on the present, on ourselves, on improving and getting better. That’s what we are going to do.”
Arsenal have had a difficult start to the season, with injuries taking their toll on the squad. Mikel Arteta’s side have also had a tough run of games, including trips to Aston Villa, Chelsea, Manchester City, Newcastle and Tottenham.
The Gunners face a kinder calendar after this international break, but Merino believes they cannot look too far ahead as they try to rein Liverpool in.
“Right now, we are at a moment where we have to think about the next step, about the next training session, the next game,” said the midfielder.
“Don’t look too much ahead of ourselves, because the small steps are the ones that are going to build the long run.
“So, just focus on the next [thing], try to do the best training session, try to win the next game, [put in the] best performance possible and from there we will start to build.
“I think the mentality and the character that these guys are showing is just unbelievable. You can see it, just [after] conceding a goal away from home [against Chelsea], against a team who is normally dominant, and you are the ones who are dictating the tempo and attacking and creating the chances.
“This is a big sign of what this team is about. I am a positive person and I hope for the future the results are coming and this team will grow.”
