Former Arsenal star Paul Merson has issued a pointy warning to Mikel Arteta, saying the Gunners may throw away the Premier League title if the supervisor continues deploying midfielder Mikel Merino as a centre-forward as a substitute of utilizing a pure striker like Viktor Gyokeres.
Arsenal, sitting two factors clear on the high, face Wolves this weekend after struggling a dangerous defeat to Aston Villa, a loss Merson believes uncovered the flaw in Arteta’s tactical selections.
“If Arsenal wish to win the league, they want a striker. Enjoying Merino up entrance will not be the reply. Gyokeres needs to be main the road,” Merson stated.
He criticised Arteta’s determination to start out Merino within the central attacking function in opposition to Villa, describing it as a miscalculation that made Arsenal simpler to defend in opposition to.
“It didn’t work. Merino is a midfielder, not somebody who will stretch defences or trigger chaos within the field. Arsenal wanted Gyokeres, his motion, his aggression, his intuition,” Merson insisted.
The previous Arsenal ahead stated the Premier League title race is simply too tight for experiments or misplaced tactical boldness.
“This isn’t the time for attempting issues out. If Arsenal don’t repair this rapidly, they are going to be caught. Manchester Metropolis and Liverpool received’t await them,” he added.
Merson argued that Arsenal’s assault turns into predictable with no conventional striker, lowering their potential to interrupt down compact opponents.
“A group like Villa will sit deep and defend properly. That’s once you want a striker to make runs, maintain up play, and end possibilities. Arsenal didn’t have that, and it price them,” he defined.
He additional warned that if Arteta continues with the present setup, the membership dangers undoing the progress that has put them on the summit of the league.
“Arsenal are in an amazing place, however they will mess it up. They want a correct No. 9 on the pitch, each large title-winning facet has one,” Merson concluded.
