LONDON
Arsenal manager Arsene
Wenger has defended under-fire centre-back Per Mertesacker ahead of his
side's Premier League home game with Queens Park Rangers on Friday.
Mertesacker
was criticised after apparently ducking beneath the ball to allow
Martin Skrtel to net a 97th-minute equaliser for Liverpool in their 2-2
draw with Arsenal last Sunday.
But Wenger says the
former German international — he retired from international football
after winning the World Cup in July — was not to blame for his side's
failure to hold on and claim three points.
Wenger
concedes Mertesacker has struggled to find form during the opening
months of the campaign following the World Cup in Brazil.
But
the Frenchman is convinced that the 30-year-old defender is nearing a
return to his best form and will only get better when Laurent Koscielny,
his regular centre-back partner, returns from an Achilles problem next
month.
"I believe he's on the way up. He had a difficult start to the season, but he's been much sharper lately," Wenger said.
"Many
people had a go at him for the corner at Liverpool, but I looked at it
and he had no chance to get that ball in the zone where he was.
"It's
not easy for him. When Koscielny comes back and with Mathieu Debuchy
being back, we will be more stable. Even in midfield we need to get our
players back and to defend better.
"We had no stability at the back and when you look at the number of players who played centre-back this season, it's not easy."
The
failure to beat Liverpool means Arsenal trail leaders Chelsea by 15
points going into the festive programme and now have their sights set on
forcing their way up from sixth and into the Champions League places.
Striker
Olivier Giroud will be expected to make a significant contribution if
Wenger's side are to progress during the second half of the campaign.
The
France international has scored twice in three games and is once again
looking sharp after missing three months of the season with a broken
leg, but he believes he must improve his strength in the air despite
scoring an excellent headed goal against Newcastle United recently.
REDKNAPP DEFENDS WENGER
"It's
surprising to hear, but headers aren't my best quality. I have the
timing, but I still need to work on the technique," Giroud said.
"You always have a side you prefer more than the other one, so I try to work on it every week and it's something I can improve."
Arsenal
will again be without midfielders Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey and Mikel
Arteta, but could welcome back Tomas Rosicky and Yaya Sanogo.
The
north London club's difficulties this season have led to calls from a
minority of supporters for Wenger to leave, but QPR manager Harry
Redknapp has backed the Frenchman to turn things around.
"I
can't believe why Arsene Wenger would get any stick. Arsenal are a good
side. I still think they will finish in the top four," Redknapp said.
"They do it every year and I don't see why they won't do it again this year."
"They do it every year and I don't see why they won't do it again this year."
Redknapp's side are attempting to build on their excellent home form and continue their movement away from the bottom three.
QPR
are keen to bring in more forward power during the January transfer
window to support leading 11-goal scorer Charlie Austin, but Redknapp
says he is only able to consider loan deals.
"We're not looking to spend money," he said.
"That's
where we are at. We spent money to bring in players in the summer and
now we have a good squad. But we can't be buying players or spending big
money in the transfer window."
Yun Suk-young, the
South Korea left-back, is missing with an ankle injury picked up during
the 3-2 home win over West Bromwich Albion last weekend.
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