Per Mertesacker has refused to give up on Arsenal’s Champions League hopes despite their 2-0 home defeat to Barcelona.
The 31-year-old had been at the heart of Arsenal’s rearguard action for 70 minutes in which their defensive efforts largely trumped the formidable frontline of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar.
However two goals in the final 18 minutes from Messi, his first against Petr Cech in nine meetings, seemed to have put the tie beyond Arsene Wenger’s men.
For Mertesacker the game’s conclusion, when Mathieu Flamini tripped the Argentine forward to give away a penalty, was particularly frustrating as he had failed to clear the initial cross into the area.
Despite a result that will require Arsenal to either keep a clean sheet or score at least three goals Mertesacker refused to admit that the tie is effectively over, though he regretted his team-mates inabilities to make the most of the chances they got.
“We had to score at one point here and that's why we do not deserve anything,” he told BT Sport. “You will never keep them quiet for 90 minutes.
“We took more risks and then they scored. We had enough chances to score at least one.”
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The fixture list offers no reprieve for Arsenal, who now prepare for a crucial week starting with Sunday’s trip to Old Trafford to take on Louis van Gaal’s misfiring Manchester United side.
That will be followed by two Premier League clashes at home to Swansea and a north London derby at White Hart Lane that could add up to a decisive week in Wenger’s title chase.
Mertesacker urged his team-mates to ensure that they now focus on the top flight, where they trail league leaders Leicester by just two points.
“We have to concentrate on the Premier League now,” he said. “In one month we face Barcelona again and we still have a chance. We never give up.”
