Arsenal's £8m signing Per Mertesacker is under no illusions the Gunners must qualify for next season's Champions League. Arsenal trail fourth-placed Newcastle by six points after a disappointing start to the season.
"It's vital that we reach at least the top four in the league, but at the moment we don't have the points to speak about that," he told Arsenal's official matchday programme.
"It's important to perform well to make sure we move up the table. The supporters have to feel we are giving everything to succeed.
"I am here to play football, to play in the Champions League and I want to be successful in all the challenges we face this season.
"Therefore we have to play hard games twice a week and that's the challenge of being an Arsenal player."
