Paul Merson worried about Arsenal duo and shares new verdict on Premier League title race

Paul Merson has insisted that Arsenal are still in the title race (Picture: Sky Sports)

Arsenal legend Paul Merson has raised concerns over two of Mikel Arteta’s players and has shared a new verdict on the Premier League title race.

Liverpool sit top of the table on 48 points after a 4-0 win at AFC Bournemouth, in which they didn’t have key duo Mohamed Salah or Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Manchester City, Arsenal and Aston Villa make up the current top four and are all on 43 points, although Pep Guardiola’s side have a game in hand over the others.

Many tipped Arsenal for glory in the summer after they pushed City all the way last term but the Gunners suffered a poor run of form across December and January, picking up one win in five top-flight games before beating Crystal Palace.

Merson does not think his old club are out of the race just yet but he is worried about strikers Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah amid their struggle for goals.

‘I think Arsenal are still in the title race,’ Merson told Sky Sports. ‘They had a big result the other day and they’re still there and thereabouts, so you have to put them in the equation.

‘But Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah won’t score as many goals between them as Salah – and he is on the right wing. That’s a massive advantage for Liverpool, who will be in the race for a long time if they keep playing as they are.’

Merson has warned Liverpool that Arsenal and Chelsea could end their Premier League title challenge in the space of a week and is backing City for the trophy.

‘I’ve always said Liverpool will be there at the end of the season,’ Merson added. ‘They just have loads of forwards – five of them in fact – and they all score goals.

‘You see Darwin Nunez missing loads of chances – I would rather have a forward missing loads than one who looks like he’s never going to get one.

Mohamed Salah scored in the 1-1 draw with Arsenal last month (Picture: Getty)

‘Luis Diaz, Nunez, Cody Gakpo and Diogo Jota – bar Salah there’s not a lot between them. So they’ve always got someone – that’s a massive advantage for them.

‘If you take Erling Haaland out of the Man City attack, it’s weaker as there’s no-one there to replace him with. Yes they have Julian Alvarez, who is a good player and will do a job, but he’s not Haaland.

‘I won’t say Liverpool are title favourites though. City can just churn, churn and churn out wins. They can go 10 games without losing, easily. Look at them now, they’ve won eight out of their last nine matches [in all competitions].

‘Their squad is just too big. They’ve had one of Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne out since the start of the season and they’re still there.

‘The difference between City, Liverpool and Arsenal is City can go for 10 wins in a row and nobody will pay any attention to it. If Liverpool and Arsenal do it, it’s a big thing.

‘And it could all be over for Liverpool in the title race in one week. They play Chelsea at home – you have no idea which Chelsea is going to turn up. They can play, so that’s a hard game.

‘Then they go Arsenal away, and if it goes like the way the FA Cup game went then Arsenal will win that game. Before you know it, it’s all over for Liverpool.’

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