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Per - We need to be 'strict and serious'

Per Mertesacker has urged Arsenal to respect Anderlecht by playing "strict and serious" football at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium.

Anderlecht have struggled in the Champions League this season, picking up one point from their opening two games.

The Gunners are favourites on paper but Mertesacker has urged his side to emulate group rivals Borussia Dortmund and keep their standards high.

"We cannot underestimate any team in the Champions League so we will go there and play serious football"

Per Mertesacker

“Dortmund were really impressed by Anderlecht’s young, talented players,” Mertesacker told Arsenal Player. “We have to play all the way through with a lot of intent - that’s what Dortmund did.

“They won 3-0 because they played in a very strict and serious way. They were very aggressive so we’ll try to do that as well. We cannot underestimate any team in the Champions League so we will go there and play serious football - that’s what we need.

“The group is still tight. We got a vital win at home against Galatasaray. We don’t want to look too much at the other game on Wednesday, we just need to concentrate on the next match.

“Last year was so tight at the end so three teams could have gone through. It was so close that it went to the last five minutes of the final game. I expect the same this year.”

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