Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has defended Per Mertesacker after his performance in their 2-2 draw at Liverpool.

Mertesacker has been under scrutiny since Sunday's draw for ducking as Martin Skrtel nodded home the equaliser deep into injury time at Anfield.

"I don't know (why he ducked). Maybe because he sees he hasn't got the ball and somebody jumps over him and it's a reflex. But I don't think he could have got the ball," Wenger said.

"I believe he's on the way up. He had a difficult start to the season but he's been much sharper. Sometimes people are after you just that moment where you are not at your worst.

"He has to get over that (being criticised). Many people had a go at him for the corner but I looked at it and he had no chance to get that ball in the zone where he was."