Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker feels that the Gunners can learn to be consistent over the course of a full season from Chelsea.
The Gunners have struggled to get a consistent run of performances for an entire year over the past few seasons and have failed to be serious contenders in the title race as a result.
Last season they started poorly, but rallied since the turn of the year to eventually finish third in the table and thereby qualify directly for the group stage of the Champions League. However, they finished 12 points adrift of eventual Premier League winners Chelsea.
Arsenal won their second successive FA Cup after they defeated Tim Sherwood’s Aston Villa 4-0 in the final at Wembley in May and are set to face Chelsea for the Community Shield this Sunday.
And Mertesacker is relishing the prospect of facing Jose Mourinho’s side, adding that the Gunners would do well to learn to be consistent like Chelsea over the course of an entire season.
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“We haven't played Chelsea at Wembley in such a situation for a long time”, the defender was quoted as saying by his club’s site.
“They played really well last season, they were really consistent and always defended well from the front.
“I think if we can learn something from Chelsea, it's to be consistent over the whole season.”
