According to Paul Merson, a loss against Liverpool this weekend would kill Arsenal’s chances of winning the Premier League title.
Both teams have had a strong start to the season and are now in the running for the championship alongside Man City. The Gunners will host the Reds at the Emirates on Sunday.
The 2-0 loss to Bournemouth last week, however, dealt Arsenal a serious blow and dropped them four points behind Arne Slot’s team, who are currently leading the standings.
Merson, a former Arsenal player, also stated before the highly anticipated match that Mikel Arteta’s team must win this weekend in order to have any chance of taking home the Premier League trophy for the first time since 2004.
“They fall seven points behind them if they lose this,” Merson said on Sky Sports News.
If Arsenal loses, Man City will be seven and six points behind their two main title challengers. I don’t see them losing against Southampton.
“Considering how these teams are winning football games, that’s a lot of points.” They easily defeat weaker teams, and right now, the gap is enormous.
“I’d be surprised.” I would be in complete awe if Arsenal lost today and went on to win the league. It would surprise me.
The Gunners have finished two and five points behind City in the last two seasons, narrowly missing out on the championship.
Before emphasising that things will be considerably more difficult this season with two competitors for the championship, Merson believed that Sunday’s game was essential whether Arteta’s team could eventually take that key next step.
“They’re pursuing two teams, not just one,” he continued.
Considering that there are still 29 games left, Arsenal will not win the championship if they lose.
“With the results Man City has produced over the last five to six years, I simply don’t see how Arsenal will make up that seven-point deficit.”
Merson continued by talking about Arsenal’s availability problems for the crucial match, pointing out that Arteta’s team appears to be lacking in defence.
Riccardo Calafiori, Bukayo Saka, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Jurrien Timber, and Martin Odegaard are all doubtful, and William Saliba is suspended.
Merson clarified, “Very much so (it’s an awkward position to be in).” We posted the Saliba statistics while I was on Football Special in the middle of the week.
However, because Saliba is playing alongside Gabriel, his numbers are (great). He and Gabriel make a fantastic team when they play together.
“Yorke and Cole were so strong when they played up front for Manchester United.”
In either case, they are different if you remove one of them. Arsenal’s only edge, in my opinion, is that they will always play football, which provides them an advantage this weekend.
