Arsenal captain Per Mertesacker says they need to tighten up their defending.

Arsenal's return to winning ways at home to Hull came after back-to-back defeats by Watford and Chelsea that all but ended their title hopes for another season, and Mertesacker admitted the defence has to tighten up.

"I think defensive discipline is something we have to put back in our minds because it's something we need desperately," the German told the Evening Standard.

"The encouraging thing is that we've shown that resolute defence at times this season. We have the potential so let's utilise it.

"You can't do what we did against Watford, where we gifted them two goals, or what we did against Chelsea, where we lacked that bit of intensity at times.

Arsenal's defeat at home to Watford virtually ended their Premier League title hopes "But I've had a good feeling in training and I've sensed how this squad demands the best from one another."