Following their exploits last season not many people would have given Arsenal any chance of finishing in the top four position let alone contending for the Premier League. There were other teams like reigning champions Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United and on paper all of them were better than the Gunners but still Mikel Arteta’s team is leading the Premier League race after nine games. Therefore football pundit Paul Merson backs his former team, Arsenal to challenge for the title and go head to head against Pep Guardiola’s mighty Manchester City especially after the Gunners defeated Liverpool last night.
The Gunners were on the groove yet again as they showed terrific panache to win the game 3-2 against the Reds as they continue to remain at the top of the Premier League standings with 24 points from nine matches, point ahead of the Citizens.
Speaking after the game, Paul Merson told Sky Sports that it is not impossible for Arsenal to win the title citing example of Leicester City as they pulled off an absolute miracle in the 2015-16 season. He also praised the players and their performances against Liverpool as Arteta’s men showed great fighting spirit.
“I thought they were outstanding. I thought they started really well, got out of the blocks quickly and scored early doors. I thought Arsenal’s management of the game [after they scored the third] was phenomenal. Once they were 3-2 up there was never really a threat from Liverpool,” Merson said after Arsenal’s strong win.
He shared how Arsenal are a young team where there are a bunch of inexperienced players who have been giving their best and hence reaping the reward of being table toppers. Merson shares that it has been very long for the Gunners to find themselves top of the table like they are currently. “And you are talking about a very young, inexperienced team at the end there. I was so impressed. they are top of the league, another game gone, they just need to keep on doing what they are doing. I have never seen this place like this [or at least] not for a long, long, time,” he continued.
He then suggest how the players must keep going and should not lose focus thinking about their position on the standings. He also shares how it has happened in the past when Leicester City had won the Premier League, shocking everyone and now it can happen again. Hence Merson is confident on his former team to deliver and contend for the title. “It’s absolutely buzzing. As long as they stay on the coat tails of Manchester City, you never know. We’ve seen Leicester win the Premier League [in the past]. This is a good young team, they just need to stay fit,” he explained.
Arsenal will next face Norwegian outfit FK Bodo Glimt in the Europa League group stage before travelling to Elland Road to face Leeds United next in the Premier League.
