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Per Mertesacker believes his Arsenal team have saved their season after their Champions League “blow”.

The Gunners, who beat Reading on Saturday to reach the FA Cup Final , were knocked out of the Champions League by Monaco last month.

They have since won eight Premier League games in a row to become the nearest challengers to Chelsea in the Premier League.

They are also set to face Aston Villa at Wembley on May 30 to defend the FA Cup they landed last season.

Mertesacker said: “We were knocked out of the Champions League and that was a big blow for us but after that we responded and it is a great achievement.

In pictures: Arsenal 2-1 Reading

“Let’s continue our great run. We can do what we want, we just wanted to win and do something fantastic for the team and the group.

“We are just delighted that we made it again. It is a little progress - it will be a great honour, back to back FA Cup wins. We have extended our season for one more week.”

Mertesacker is set to be assessed this week after limping out of Saturday’s game with an ankle injury after 63 minutes.

There are concerns that the 30-year-old Germany international, replaced by Gabriel at Wembley, could miss Sunday’s Premier League clash against Chelsea.

(Image: REUTERS)

Meanwhile Wojciech Szczesny has admitted he knows exactly how Adam Federici is feeling after the Reading keeper’s howler cost the Championship the FA Cup semi-final.

Federici allowed a tame shot from Alexis Sanchez to go through his legs with the scores locked at 1-1 in extra time.

Szczesny’s mistake in 2011 allowed Birmingham’s Obafemi Martins to score the winner in the League Cup final at Wembley.

The Polish keeper said: “I’d like to think that he should make the headlines for the saves he made, rather than the one mistake he made.

(Image: REUTERS)

“I thought he was terrific throughout the night and he was the reason the game was so tight, because he made four or five absolutely amazing saves.

“He was solid throughout the 120 minutes. It’s one of those things, I’ve been there and done that in the last minute at Wembley and I know how it feels.

“It must be difficult for him but I’m sure he knows himself that he had a terrific game and he deserves a lot of credit for that.”