Per Mertesacker says Arsenal are determined to carry on surprising people this season.
The Gunners responded to their midweek Champions League defeat to Borussia Dortmund with a hard-fought win over Crystal Palace on Saturday after playing the final 25 minutes with 10 men.
"We do not need the goalkeeper that much, but in those situations we do need him desperately"
Per Mertesacker
The German defender was delighted with the win and said it was important to get back to winning ways as quickly as possible.
"We wanted to come back as quickly as possible as a strong unit. What we showed was good enough to respond," said Mertesacker "But there will be more tests to come and that will be crucial for the rest of the season.
"We want to surprise people more and more, that is what we need to do but we do not look too much at the other sides. We are in a strong and interesting position, so we are aware of it and try to keep it - but that is the difficult thing, to keep it."
Mertesacker saved special praise forWojciech Szczesny after the Polish keeper made a string of sublime saves to keep the Gunners in front before Olivier Giroud sealed the three points with a late header.
"We had a decent goalkeeper as well, he saved three times when they were in a decent position,” he said.
"We do not need the goalkeeper that much, but in those situations we do need him desperately. He did a good job, but the whole team did - and that is his job, to save us sometimes."
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