Per Mertesacker has called on his Arsenal team-mates to emulate their current impressive form for the entirety of next season as they look to mount a serious challenge for the Premier League title in 2015-16.

The 30-year-old World Cup-winning former Germany international defender has helped Arsene Wenger’s men produce title-winning form since New Year’s Day as they have lost just once in the Premier League and are on a run of nine wins in 10 games.

It has left the Gunners on course for a second-placed finish for the first time in a decade behind already-crowned champions Chelsea.

They sit level on points with Manchester City, but could be three behind by the time they face Swansea at the Emirates Stadium on Monday depending on the outcome of the Citizens’ home clash against QPR on Sunday afternoon.

However Arsenal also have a game in hand against lowly Sunderland on home soil to come and that could prove decisive in the fight for second place.

But Mertesacker, who has also helped the north Londoners secure a second successive FA Cup final as they look to defend their title against Aston Villa at Wembley on May 30, wants to more ‘consistency’ to push for the championship next term.

He 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 are 1.30 to defeat Swansea on Monday night, while the visitors are 10.00 and the draw is 5.00.