World Cup winner Per Mertesacker has called for Arsenal to sustain their Premier League title challenge for "more than six months" next term.

The Gunners have won nine and drawn one - a goalless draw with champions Chelsea - of their last 10 matches as they bid to claim their highest-placed finish for a decade. Arsenal have not finished in the top two since 2004-05.

Arsene Wenger's men, who play Swansea on Monday night, are also in the FA Cup final as they bid to retain the trophy which ended a nine-year silverware drought last term against Aston Villa on May 30.

Asked how Arsenal can bridge the gap to Chelsea, who won the title with three games to spare, Germany defender Mertesacker said: "Consistency. It's all about that.

"In 2015 we haven't lost a lot of games. Those winning runs create a lot of confidence, between the fans, between the team.

"That is really important to get that going for more than six months."

Arsenal last lost in the Premier League to Tottenham in early February and their Champions League loss to Monaco is the only other defeat since.

The Gunners have lost six times in the league this term, including at Swansea in November, while Chelsea have lost only twice.

Mertesacker is determined that the fine run continues until the end of the season, to secure direct qualification to the Champions League group stages and to carry momentum to Wembley.

"The championship has gone now. Chelsea deserve to win it," Mertesacker added.

"The second spot is open and we're one contender for that. To avoid the fourth spot is a target.

"To focus on the next game is the most important thing, but when you look forward to the FA Cup final you want that momentum and that strong run going until the last day of the campaign.

"We are in a really good mood. The atmosphere's great at the minute. We're on a winning run and try to continue that.

"Our team looks strong physically and mentally. We're playing good football and that's what counts at the moment.

"We want to continue that. Monday night game under floodlights is a good one for us.

"Swansea have done so well this season. When we went to Swansea we lost there. We need to improve our game."

Mertesacker was speaking at the launch of the Arsenal Hub, the home of Arsenal in the community adjacent to the Emirates Stadium.

The facility, which includes a 50metres x 18m 4G artificial pitch, classrooms and office space, will provide over 50 hours of community use to 1,500 Londoners per week.

"It's (using) football to get a connection to the kids, try to fulfil their potential," added Mertesacker, who runs his own community programme in Hannover.

"It's exciting for us as players. Now we know what's going on here, with 50 projects.

"It's a great result of the community work for 30 years now. To give something back to the community is what we need to do."