Per Mertesacker has highlighted the importance of an Arsenal victory when they face Queens Park Rangers on Saturday after suffering consecutive defeats this week.

The Gunners were firstly shocked by Norwich City in the Premier League before losing their 100% start to their European campaign with a 2-0 loss to Schalke.

Mertesacker feels that it was an untimely international break that caused a slip in Arsenal's form, and the German has stressed that they must get back to winning ways at the earliest opportunity in order to avoid falling into a slump.

"We have had a difficult week, our results were kind of an accident, now we have to find our game again. The international break was kind of a killer for us. We have to find our strength back again quickly," said Mertesacker.

"We have the potential in us, but first we have to fight. In the next training sessions we will look to get our confidence back.

"Sometimes you need one game to find your strength and qualities back, so let's do it on Saturday."

Mertesacker joined Arsenal from Bundesliga outfit Werder Bremen for a reported £12m fee in 2011.