Per Mertesacker backed “knackered” Arsenal to find another gear when their key players return from injury.

Despite 10 players being sidelined, the Gunners are behind Premier League leaders Manchester City on goal difference alone after their 1-1 draw with Tottenham at Emirates Stadium yesterday.

Arsenal fought back to win a point when substitute Kieran Gibbs scored in the 76th minute and Mertesacker believes the result can give them the boost they need when the action resumes after the international break.

He said: “With so many games you need a lot of players who can replace each other and give energy.

“That is how we beat Bayern Munich [2-0 in the Champions League last month]. Theo Walcott played for 75 minutes and then Olivier Giroud gave us a different style and had a massive impact on the match. We need game-changers.

“Because of the injuries, we have suffered a bit in this way but I’m convinced that after the international break we will have more options and therefore more confidence.”

Harry Kane gave Tottenham the lead in the first half and the visitors were the better team for long periods.

Arsenal vs Tottenham: Player Ratings 27 show all Arsenal vs Tottenham: Player Ratings 1/27 Petr Cech: 6 Safe hands and superb distribution. Proved his worth with several smart saves but was well beaten by Kane in a one-on-one situation. 2/27 Mathieu Debuchy: 5 For all the scepticism surrounding the Frenchman's inclusion prior to kick-off, the 30-year-old produced a solid display. Unable to offer support in attack. 3/27 Per Mertesacker: 4 The experienced central defender lost the flight of the ball on several occasions and was poor positionally. Teams with pace can render him obsolete. 4/27 Laurent Koscielny: 4 The Frenchman's inclusion was supposed to boost Arsenal but his naive decision to attempt to play offside gifted Kane the chance to open the scoring. 5/27 Nacho Monreal: 6 The Spaniard was once considered to be the Gunners' weak link, but outshone his fellow defenders here. Strong and composed. 6/27 Francis Coquelin: 6 Could not be accused of a lack of effort but failed to impose himself on the game. The Frenchman was often bypassed by Tottenham's fluid front line. 7/27 Santi Cazorla: 4 The Spaniard was well below his usual high standards. Hauled off at the break after an anonymous first-half display. 8/27 Joel Campbell: 5 The Costa Rican started well and was always a willing runner, but did not truly trouble either of Tottenham's full backs. 9/27 Mesut Ozil: 6 Looked off the pace at times. The German has been a shining light in recent weeks and set up the equaliser but lacked the graft to pose a constant threat. 10/27 Alexis Sanchez: 5 The Chilean has gone off the boil of late and could not provide the spark that we have come to expect from him. The sheer amount of football he has played could have finally caught up with him. 11/27 Olivier Giroud: 5 Fortunate to escape punishment for a scuffle with Vertonghen. Powered a header onto the bar from close range when he should have done better and failed to make the most of the chances that fell his way. 12/27 Mathieu Flamini: 5 Introduced at the break for an ineffective Cazorla but did little to turn the tide in his side's favour. 13/27 Kieran Gibbs: 7 The substitute scored with virtually his first touch and could have had a second. 14/27 Mikel Arteta: 5 The captain was introduced late on but did not have time to make a meaningful contribution. 15/27 Hugo Lloris: 6 Had a quieter day than he might of expected, but was still a reliable presence when the going got tough in the closing stages. 16/27 Kyle Walker: 5 Stifled Sanchez well but undid his hard work with some sloppy marking that gifted Gibbs the chance to equalise. 17/27 Toby Alderweireld: 6 The Belgian is fast becoming one of the division's best defenders. Composed and confident on the ball and in the challenge. 18/27 Jan Vertonghen: 6 Got involved with Giroud needlessly but regained his composure to produce a confident display. Coped with the Frenchman's physicality. 19/27 Danny Rose: 6 Won his individual battle with Campbell and defended resolutely. Displayed superb vision to slip Kane in behind the Arsenal defence for the opening goal. 20/27 Eric Dier: 6 Should have done better at the back post when Eriksen's cross found him unmarked, but helped to ensure Arsenal's attack could not find their rhythm. 21/27 Dele Alli: 8 Still yet to look daunted in a Tottenham shirt, the teenager was not overawed by the occasion and played a pivotal role in Tottenham's midfield supremacy. 22/27 Mousa Dembele: 6 The big Belgian is in a rich vein of form and offered plenty of strength and power which Arsenal struggled to get to grips with. 23/27 Christian Eriksen: 7 The midfielder fulfilled a number of roles and it was his movement that drew Mertesacker out of position for Kane's goal. 24/27 Erik Lamela: 6 The Argentine personifies Pochettino's style of play. He started well but fizzled out in regards to his creativity but his effort rarely waned. 25/27 Harry Kane: 7 The striker defended from the front and buried the only real sight of goal that he had. A goal in a game of such magnitude should finally put the one-season wonder argument to bed. 26/27 Heung-min Son: 5 His return would have been a welcome sight but the South Korean did not have enough time to get back to full speed after an injury lay off. 27/27 Ryan Mason: 5 Brought on too late to do anything other than provide a fresh pair of legs. 1/27 Petr Cech: 6 Safe hands and superb distribution. Proved his worth with several smart saves but was well beaten by Kane in a one-on-one situation. 2/27 Mathieu Debuchy: 5 For all the scepticism surrounding the Frenchman's inclusion prior to kick-off, the 30-year-old produced a solid display. Unable to offer support in attack. 3/27 Per Mertesacker: 4 The experienced central defender lost the flight of the ball on several occasions and was poor positionally. Teams with pace can render him obsolete. 4/27 Laurent Koscielny: 4 The Frenchman's inclusion was supposed to boost Arsenal but his naive decision to attempt to play offside gifted Kane the chance to open the scoring. 5/27 Nacho Monreal: 6 The Spaniard was once considered to be the Gunners' weak link, but outshone his fellow defenders here. Strong and composed. 6/27 Francis Coquelin: 6 Could not be accused of a lack of effort but failed to impose himself on the game. The Frenchman was often bypassed by Tottenham's fluid front line. 7/27 Santi Cazorla: 4 The Spaniard was well below his usual high standards. Hauled off at the break after an anonymous first-half display. 8/27 Joel Campbell: 5 The Costa Rican started well and was always a willing runner, but did not truly trouble either of Tottenham's full backs. 9/27 Mesut Ozil: 6 Looked off the pace at times. The German has been a shining light in recent weeks and set up the equaliser but lacked the graft to pose a constant threat. 10/27 Alexis Sanchez: 5 The Chilean has gone off the boil of late and could not provide the spark that we have come to expect from him. The sheer amount of football he has played could have finally caught up with him. 11/27 Olivier Giroud: 5 Fortunate to escape punishment for a scuffle with Vertonghen. Powered a header onto the bar from close range when he should have done better and failed to make the most of the chances that fell his way. 12/27 Mathieu Flamini: 5 Introduced at the break for an ineffective Cazorla but did little to turn the tide in his side's favour. 13/27 Kieran Gibbs: 7 The substitute scored with virtually his first touch and could have had a second. 14/27 Mikel Arteta: 5 The captain was introduced late on but did not have time to make a meaningful contribution. 15/27 Hugo Lloris: 6 Had a quieter day than he might of expected, but was still a reliable presence when the going got tough in the closing stages. 16/27 Kyle Walker: 5 Stifled Sanchez well but undid his hard work with some sloppy marking that gifted Gibbs the chance to equalise. 17/27 Toby Alderweireld: 6 The Belgian is fast becoming one of the division's best defenders. Composed and confident on the ball and in the challenge. 18/27 Jan Vertonghen: 6 Got involved with Giroud needlessly but regained his composure to produce a confident display. Coped with the Frenchman's physicality. 19/27 Danny Rose: 6 Won his individual battle with Campbell and defended resolutely. Displayed superb vision to slip Kane in behind the Arsenal defence for the opening goal. 20/27 Eric Dier: 6 Should have done better at the back post when Eriksen's cross found him unmarked, but helped to ensure Arsenal's attack could not find their rhythm. 21/27 Dele Alli: 8 Still yet to look daunted in a Tottenham shirt, the teenager was not overawed by the occasion and played a pivotal role in Tottenham's midfield supremacy. 22/27 Mousa Dembele: 6 The big Belgian is in a rich vein of form and offered plenty of strength and power which Arsenal struggled to get to grips with. 23/27 Christian Eriksen: 7 The midfielder fulfilled a number of roles and it was his movement that drew Mertesacker out of position for Kane's goal. 24/27 Erik Lamela: 6 The Argentine personifies Pochettino's style of play. He started well but fizzled out in regards to his creativity but his effort rarely waned. 25/27 Harry Kane: 7 The striker defended from the front and buried the only real sight of goal that he had. A goal in a game of such magnitude should finally put the one-season wonder argument to bed. 26/27 Heung-min Son: 5 His return would have been a welcome sight but the South Korean did not have enough time to get back to full speed after an injury lay off. 27/27 Ryan Mason: 5 Brought on too late to do anything other than provide a fresh pair of legs.

Mertesacker admitted: “The derby was fun to play but we all looked a bit knackered, especially in the first half, and we gave absolutely everything. A few of us will enjoy next weekend off and then it is back to duty the following week.

“At times we need to give more and be more convincing with our game plan. There is room for improvement but we are in a good position and we want to continue that unbeaten streak.”