Paul Merson believes Arsenal's Premier League campaign is effectively finished and went as far as to say that they risk falling out of the Champions League spots.
After a 1-1 stalemate with Manchester United at Old Trafford, the Gunners find themselves 15 points adrift of Liverpool. Arne Slot's team now requires just 16 points from their remaining nine fixtures to secure the league title.
Arsenal's attacking issues have been compounded by season-ending injuries to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, leading to midfielder Mikel Merino being deployed as an emergency striker, a role in which he scored twice against Leicester last month. However, subsequent goalless performances against West Ham and Nottingham Forest, followed by a 7-1 thrashing of PSV Eindhoven before Sunday's match, have raised concerns.
With Manchester City sitting eight points behind Arteta's squad in fifth place, Merson, speaking on Sky Sports, believes Arsenal should be wary. "I thought it (the win against PSV) was papering over the cracks," he said.
“Leicester let in goals everywhere and Arsenal never looked like scoring against West Ham and they didn’t really look like scoring against Nottingham Forest. This is one of the top teams in the world, in the top league in the world, and you have no centre-forward and you are asking Mikel Merino to play there. And you are not going to win the league with him up front. He looks lost, he doesn’t give you a presence.
“Arsenal are suffering and it is a worry now until the end of the season that there are no goals. It is getting tight and I wouldn’t be surprised if City catch Arsenal.
“Fifth are nearer to Arsenal than first. I would be saying to them now that we have to concentrate on getting in the top four. They (Liverpool) are too far way. It is not going to happen. The league is over. Finished.”
Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane questioned Arsenal’s mentality in the draw at Old Trafford, and does not believe the Gunners’ two-decade wait for a title will end next season, even if they sign a world-class striker in the summer.
He said: “Liverpool will look at that today, and think Arsenal have given up on the title. I thought Arsenal would have the mentality to get the job done, but if anything it was the opposite.
“What we saw today was nowhere near good enough. They didn’t do a job on United, and United were there for the taking.
“So why do we think this team will get a striker in and win the league title next season? Where is the evidence with this manager and this group of players? I won’t be putting any bets on Arsenal, that is for sure.”
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Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus with the Arsenal Therapy Dog Win during the Arsenal Men's team group shoot at London Colney on September 18, 2023
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