Per Mertesacker insists criticism of Arsene Wenger and the Arsenal players has left the squad determined to end the season on a high. Arsenal were top of the Premier League table in January and in the Champions League and FA Cup, but a poor run of form saw them eliminated from both cup competitions while they now sit 13 points behind league leaders Leicester.The Gunners face West Brom at the Emirates on Thursday, live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 7pm, and Mertesacker believes Arsenal can win their final five matches if they stick together. A late strike from Yannick Bolasie held Arsenal to a 1-1 draw at the Emirates on Sunday When asked if criticism makes the team keen to prove doubters wrong, the defender told Sky Sports News HQ: Certainly. It has never been different. There have always been rumours and always been criticism, but the group is always strongest when we stick to each other.We went through a difficult period in my time at Arsenal in these years, and we always came back stronger. The one thing we missed out was to be consistent over the season.That is a criticism we have to face and I have no doubt the group will grow, even when everyone expected us to win something this year. I think as long as the team is still hungry, still wants to go for it, thats going to be the key. As long as we keep that, we have the opportunity to get 15 points out of the five games. Then lets see what the outcome is.A 1-1 draw at home to Crystal Palace has left Arsenal in a battle to secure a top-four finish, and Mertesacker, who slammed his teams indiscipline on Tuesday, believes their attacking philosophy has cost them at times this season. Arsene Wenger is unconcerned that some Arsenal season ticket holders have returned their tickets for their game against West Brom We are team that likes to play forward, likes to play an offensive style, he added. We like to play to keep ourselves in positions where we get into the next attack, but we have to be more cautious about coming back and being behind the ball together.We missed a lot of chances. Weve had a lot of opportunities throughout this season to be in a better position.Those are regrets we do have, but still its very difficult to look back at the minute and think, we were in top spot. We just have to go for it now, there is no other solution for us.Watch Arsenal v West Brom live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 7pm, or watch live for £6.99 without a contract, on NOW TV. Also See: Wenger: Im staying put Sky Live: Arsenal v West Brom Sanchez and Ozil can wait Arsene incredibly unlucky Rod Brind Amour Jersey . Louis Cardinals are one of Major League Baseballs model franchises. Carolina Hurricanes Jerseys . The Raptors have to get through the pesky New York Knicks Wednesday at Madison Square Garden and can lock up the third spot in the Eastern Conference with a win or a Chicago loss in Charlotte. http://www.hockeyhurricanes.com/justin-faulk-hockey-jersey/ . Gonzalez participated in his final game on Sunday, Atlantas 21-20 defeat at the hands of the NFC South champion Carolina Panthers, having posted four catches for 46 yards. Custom Carolina Hurricanes Jerseys . His second visit, not so much. Roark (7-5) allowed four runs on 10 hits and one walk over six innings in a 7-2 setback in front of several friends and family members, as the Cubs snapped his personal streak of four consecutive victories on Friday.CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Panthers coach Ron Rivera said hes never experienced a season like this one since he joined the NFL 30 years ago.Carolinas journey to the NFC divisional playoffs has included quarterback Cam Newton flipping his truck and being hospitalized with two fractures in his lower back, franchise defensive end Greg Hardy being convicted on two counts of domestic violence, and Riveras house catching fire and causing $500,000 worth of the damage five days before the biggest game of his coaching career.It has been different, Rivera said. You cant make this stuff up.Theres been nothing ordinary or predictable about the Panthers on the field, either.Carolina became the first NFL team to go more than two months without a victory and reach the playoffs. The Panthers won the NFC South despite a 7-8-1 record. And last Saturday, a defence that gave up 35 or more points in four of its first seven games held Arizona to 78 yards in the wild-card round, the fewest ever allowed in the NFL post-season.Safety Roman Harper said he wasnt expecting this type of adventure in his first season in Carolina. The Panthers visit Seattle (12-4) on Saturday with a trip to the NFC championship game on the line.It isnt the prettiest thing, but we got a date to the prom at the end of the day, Harper said, laughing. Were here. Shes probably not the best-looking one; shes not going to win prom queen, but well have a good time.The Panthers arent apologizing for their record.In fact, in some ways they believe the season has toughened them and left them playoff ready.They had to win their last four games just to get into the playoffs.Newton has fought through ankle and rib injuries and the back fractures, and he has the Panthers on a five-game winning streak.Rivera is already hunkered down preparing for Seattle while his wife handles the details of where hell live for the next 6-8 months while their burned-out home is rebuilt.Hardy still isnt eligible to play, but his abbsence paved the way for fellow defensive end Charles Johnson to step out of character and become one of the teams vocal leaders.ddddddddddddCornerback Josh Norman is convinced the Panthers have benefited from some divine intervention — particularly when it came to Newtons accident.If it werent for Gods angel covering him in that truck, I dont know what would have happened, Norman said. We could have been talking about missing our quarterback, our leader, forever. But he was blessed.The idea the Panthers are even still playing after a 3-8-1 start speaks volumes about the team, said centre Ryan Kalil.Some strange things have come up, Kalil said, but its been very telling of the character and closeness of this team that whether it is something happening inside or outside the locker room, this is a group that stuck together and continue to work and work.Kalil said that is also a reflection of Rivera, the 2013 NFL Coach of the Year, for staying positive and keeping everyone together when it would have been easy to quit on the season.Rivera said he never once lost faith in his team.At the end of the day you learn how to deal and cope with these things, Rivera said, and if you can keep your focus then you will have an opportunity and a chance.Then again, maybe Carolinas season isnt that unusual.Former Jets wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery was asked about this year and simply laughed.Well, I played in New York, Cotchery said, so I wont even go there.NOTES: The Panthers have moved practices inside their stadium this week and are piping in crowd noise to help simulate playing in Seattle, which features one of the loudest stadiums in the league. ... Rivera said hes sticking with returner Brenton Bersin despite a muffed punt that resulted in a turnover against Arizona. ... Wide receiver Philly Brown (shoulder) did not practice Tuesday. 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