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Defensive display pleases Per

London - Arsenal's clean slate in the comprehensive 3-0 Premier League win over Manchester United on Sunday will give the side confidence to build on their defensive display, defender Per Mertesacker has said.

The Gunners were three goals up within the first 20 minutes against United, thanks to a goals from Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil and the result saw them climb to second on the league table, two points behind Manchester City after eight games.

Arsenal have kept four clean sheets, the second highest in the league, and are among the teams who have conceded the least goals so far this season.

"We (United) gave them two or three chances, but we have a great goalkeeper as well and he did well also, so defensively I think we can build on that," Mertesacker was quoted as saying on the club's website (www.arsenal.com).

"Now we have a little break and in two weeks we come together again and we have to remind ourselves what we can do," the 31-year-old German said ahead of the international break.

Left back Nacho Monreal was full of praise for team mate Sanchez, who has scored six goals in his last three games.

"He (Sanchez) scored 25 goals in all competitions and this season he has started really well," Monreal said.

"We need Alexis to score more goals and we are happy for him because he's a really important player for us."

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