Paul Merson says: Arsenal a few accidents away from Premier League top-four struggle | Soccer Information

Paul Merson says Arsenal are simply a few accidents away from going through an actual struggle to make the Premier League’s prime 4 this season.

The Gunners have been Manchester Metropolis’s closest challengers during the last two seasons, completed second to Pep Guardiola’s facet on each events.

Many have tipped Mikel Arteta’s facet to go one higher this season however former Arsenal star Merson has supplied some phrases of warning for his former facet’s possibilities of ending a 20-year wait to carry the title again to north London.

In his first column of the brand new season for Sky Sports activities, the Magic Man additionally discusses Liverpool, who will likely be led by new boss Arne Slot this season after the departure of Jurgen Klopp, and he believes Tottenham, with new signing Dominic Solanke, might spring a shock or two and qualify for the Champions League.

Lastly, Merson provides his view on Chelsea, who face Manchester Metropolis on Sunday of their opening match of the season, reside on Sky Sports activities (kick-off 4.30pm), saying new boss Enzo Maresca should hit the bottom operating at Stamford Bridge to keep away from any early strain constructing on the Italian.

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‘Arsenal a few accidents away from simply being a top-four group’

I do know after their performances in latest seasons within the Premier League this may be barely controversial, however I feel Arsenal are a few accidents away from being in a battle to make the highest 4.

On paper, they’re actually Manchester Metropolis’s closest challengers, however final season the likes of William Saliba, Gabriel, Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka all performed quite a lot of soccer matches.

The 2 central defenders nearly performed each recreation. Nevertheless, a few seasons in the past Saliba picked up an harm in the direction of the top of the season and so they have been leaking objectives left, proper and centre as their title bid faltered.

All their large gamers stayed match and that was essential for Mikel Arteta’s facet final season, however they nonetheless couldn’t overhaul Manchester Metropolis.

Speaking up Arsenal as Premier League title challengers is harmful for me this time round. If they’ll preserve all their large gamers match they’ll push Pep Guardiola’s facet shut, doubtlessly all the best way once more. But when they’ve some dangerous luck with accidents this time round, it could possibly be an actual wrestle.

I nonetheless additionally suppose the Gunners want a centre-forward earlier than the switch window closes. I can not see them profitable the Premier League with out an out-and-out striker.

‘Liverpool’s squad wants bolstering however they’ll do properly underneath Slot’

Liverpool are in the same place to the place Tottenham have been underneath Mauricio Pochettino a number of years in the past.

For me, they’ve an unbelievable 11 or 12 gamers. They’ve a very sturdy group and that makes it tough to purchase gamers.

The best way the PSR guidelines work in soccer now, you’ll be able to’t go and pay £70m for a participant and never play them. Large gamers do not come to sit down on the bench. That is tough for Liverpool as a result of they’ve to search out high-quality to truly enhance the primary XI.

I like Liverpool’s group. They’ve objectives within the group and due to that I feel they are going to be alright underneath Arne Slot, however they need to discover a approach of bulking the squad up earlier than the switch window closes.

As like Arsenal and with most groups, the massive factor for Liverpool is holding the gamers match. They want Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold to play each week.

They want their key gamers match and firing, in any other case it could possibly be a little bit of a wrestle.

‘Spurs can break into the highest 4’

There’s been quite a lot of discuss West Ham and their summer time enterprise, however I do not see the Hammers being a shock bundle this season.

Them doing properly just isn’t actually a shock to me, they’ve been in Europe lots over the previous few years and in addition gained the Europa Convention League a few seasons in the past.

They’ve purchased properly and made some respectable signings, nevertheless it’s nonetheless going to be exhausting for them to interrupt in to say the highest 4.

I do [think there will be a surprise]. Tottenham will end within the prime 4.

Spurs have been unfortunate final season. They began brilliantly after which misplaced to Chelsea. They’d two gamers despatched off that day however they misplaced so many to harm as properly that week. We simply talked about Arsenal profitable the league, when you took the important thing gamers Spurs misplaced away from Arsenal, or anyone else bar Manchester Metropolis, it could be a wrestle.

If Spurs can preserve their gamers match they’ll spring a shock or two this season.

‘Solanke to have a huge impact for Spurs’

Dominic Solanke is a very good purchase. Tottenham wanted an out-and-out striker with tempo, and he is that. He is a presence up there main the road and he’ll go well with the best way Spurs play underneath Ange Postecoglou.

Richarlison is an effective participant on his day, however you want greater than in your day.

Solanke could possibly be that distinction as a result of groups have been beginning to push up on Spurs and suffocate them, however Solanke’s tempo and his risk in behind may help stretch the sport for Postecoglou’s facet.

That might in flip assist James Maddison, who did not get a lot house in any respect when he returned to the group after his harm. However Solanke will assist him get house and with time and house, Maddison can select anyone.

‘Maresca should hit the bottom operating at Chelsea’

Chelsea’s opener in opposition to Manchester Metropolis can go both approach. Both it is a good recreation to start out and you may get a outcome in opposition to the champions to kick-start the season. With a win in opposition to Metropolis, the negativity can flip to positivity in a short time.

Nevertheless, an enormous defeat to Metropolis on the opening day would actually see the strain construct rapidly.

Enzo Maresca has received to hit the bottom operating however I can not see this group being constant sufficient.

Individuals will level to the truth that they completed strongly within the league, profitable their closing 5 matches of the season. However not lengthy earlier than that they have been getting crushed 5-0 by Arsenal.

That is the benchmark. Beating the likes of Brighton and West Ham, no disrespect to these sides, is not Chelsea’s benchmark. Their benchmark is Arsenal, Tottenham, Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester Metropolis.

In the meanwhile, I am seeing Chelsea as a cup group once more. If they’ll get into the highest 4 this season, I feel they’d have had the most important outcome ever.