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 dealing with 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 provided 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 probably be led by new boss Arne Slot this season after the departure of Jurgen Klopp, and he believes Tottenham, with new signing Dominic Solanke, may spring a shock or two and qualify for the Champions League.

Lastly, Merson offers 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 stress constructing on the Italian.

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

I do know after their performances in latest seasons within the Premier League this could 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 definitely Manchester Metropolis’s closest challengers, however final season the likes of William Saliba, Gabriel, Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka all performed a number of soccer matches.

The 2 central defenders just about performed each sport. Nevertheless, a few seasons in the past Saliba picked up an damage in the direction of the top of the season they usually had been leaking targets left, proper and centre as their title bid faltered.

All their huge 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 will hold all their huge gamers match they may 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 assume 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 may do nicely below Slot’

Liverpool are in an analogous place to the place Tottenham had been below Mauricio Pochettino a number of years in the past.

For me, they’ve an unbelievable 11 or 12 gamers. They’ve a extremely robust staff and that makes it tough to purchase gamers.

The best way the PSR guidelines work in soccer now, you may’t go and pay £70m for a participant and never play them. Massive 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 staff. They’ve targets within the staff and due to that I feel they are going to be alright below Arne Slot, however they should 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 conserving 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 a number of speak about West Ham and their summer season enterprise, however I do not see the Hammers being a shock package deal this season.

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

They’ve purchased nicely and made some first rate signings, but it surely’s nonetheless going to be arduous 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 had 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 damage as nicely that week. We simply talked about Arsenal profitable the league, in the event you took the important thing gamers Spurs misplaced away from Arsenal, or anyone else bar Manchester Metropolis, it might be a wrestle.

If Spurs can hold their gamers match they will spring a shock or two this season.

‘Solanke to have a big effect for Spurs’

Dominic Solanke is a extremely 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 below Ange Postecoglou.

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

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

That would in flip assist James Maddison, who did not get a lot area in any respect when he returned to the staff after his damage. However Solanke will assist him get area and with time and area, Maddison can pick anyone.

‘Maresca should hit the bottom operating at Chelsea’

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

Nevertheless, a giant defeat to Metropolis on the opening day would actually see the stress construct rapidly.

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

Individuals will level to the truth that they completed strongly within the league, profitable their ultimate 5 matches of the season. However not lengthy earlier than that they had been getting overwhelmed 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 intervening time, I am seeing Chelsea as a cup staff once more. If they will get into the highest 4 this season, I feel they’d have had the largest consequence ever.