Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker admits they're not fulfilling their potential.

Mertesacker knows that it could and perhaps should have been a different story and he has urged the squad to fulfil its potential in the games to come.

"I think there is a lot of room for improvement," the centre back told Arsenal Player.

"We have a very good side and good potential but we have to be good on the pitch. At the moment we don't use all our opportunities.

"We are always looking for clean sheets and good performances. In the first half we created good chances to score but it wasn't enough. I think in the first half we deserved to lead but it is only one point in the end.

"Blackburn is an early game [on Saturday] and that is always special. We are one of the first teams to play at the weekend so we have to go for the three points to show the others we are already there."