Paul Merson's Bold Demand for Arsenal Ahead of Tottenham Showdown
Former Arsenal star Paul Merson has issued a stark warning to manager Mikel Arteta ahead of this weekend's critical north London derby against Tottenham Hotspur. Merson specifically urges Arteta to drop winger Noni Madueke from the starting lineup and instead deploy summer signing Eberechi Eze in the crucial number ten role.
Arsenal's Title Charge Faces Critical Test
The Gunners travel to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday afternoon desperately needing to reignite their Premier League title campaign. Just weeks ago, Arsenal appeared clear favorites to secure their first league championship since 2004, but a concerning dip in form has raised serious questions about their championship credentials.
Arteta's squad stumbled to a 1-1 draw against Brentford last week before surrendering a two-goal advantage in Wednesday's 2-2 stalemate with bottom-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers. These disappointing results have seen Arsenal's lead over second-placed Manchester City shrink to just five points, with that advantage potentially diminishing to a mere two points should City defeat Newcastle United on Saturday.
Merson's Scathing Assessment of Arsenal's Recent Form
In his weekly predictions column for Sportskeeda, Merson expressed unprecedented uncertainty about Arsenal's prospects. "I'm sitting here and I don't know what happens in this game," the Gunners legend admitted. "I thought I'd never say that, but it is what it is."
Merson described Arsenal's performance against Wolves as "one of their worst ever games," criticizing the team's lack of attacking patterns and uncharacteristic play. He emphasized the psychological pressure now mounting on Arteta's squad, particularly with Tottenham enjoying a "free swing" under new caretaker manager Igor Tudor following Thomas Frank's dismissal.
The Tactical Switch Merson Demands
The former Arsenal midfielder expressed particular bewilderment at Arteta's team selection against Wolves, questioning why £67.5 million signing Eberechi Eze was benched while Bukayo Saka operated out of position as a number ten.
"I find it strange that Eberechi Eze did not start as the no.10 against Wolves," Merson stated. "He was brought in to do that. Then why did he not start the game? Mikel Arteta used Bukayo Saka as a No.10 instead. He's not suited to play there because he's a proper winger."
Merson was equally critical of Noni Madueke's inconsistent performances, describing the winger as "very hot and cold" despite acknowledging his improvement this season. "He will do something amazing and the next thing he does would make you go, 'why did he do that?'" Merson observed.
Merson's Predicted Lineup Change and Match Forecast
The Sky Sports pundit anticipates Arteta will move Saka back to his natural wing position and insert Eze into the starting eleven in place of Madueke. "For me, Eze has to play as the No.10 against Spurs," Merson insisted. "He's good in tight spaces and is better than Saka in that role."
Despite his concerns, Merson predicts a narrow 1-0 Arsenal victory but acknowledges the possibility of another disappointing result. "I won't be shocked if they failed to either," he conceded. "It just seems like they can't open teams up anymore."
Broader Title Race Implications
Merson believes the Premier League championship is now firmly in Manchester City's control, stating unequivocally: "It's in Manchester City's hands now. If they win every game from now, they win the league title."
The former England international expressed astonishment at Arsenal's dramatic decline, noting: "Three weeks ago, you could have never thought it would be this way. It's quite unbelievable how Arsenal have slipped up."
While acknowledging that Arsenal's title hopes could revive with victories over Tottenham and a Newcastle win against Manchester City, Merson remains pessimistic. "The way everything is playing out in front of us, it's not looking good for Arsenal," he concluded.
Arsenal's quest for their first Premier League title in over two decades faces its most severe test yet against a Tottenham side battling relegation fears. The north London derby promises high drama with championship aspirations and top-flight survival both hanging in the balance.
