Paul Merson has been on another massive rant about Arsenal but this time I fear that he could actually be right.
The ex-Arsenal man rarely has anything nice to say about his former club and more often than not I disagree with what he says. This is not one of those times, which admittedly makes me a little annoyed.
Speaking ahead of Arsenal’s trip to Liverpool this weekend, Merson unloaded both barrels during a massive rant, questioning why, if he could see how poor the Gunners’ defence has been over the last decade, why can’t Arsene Wenger?
“It’s been like that for the last 10 years, you know that, I know that, so how does [Wenger] not know that?” Merson said, reports Sky Sports.
“How are you every going to win the Premier League with Nacho Monreal playing in a back three? Please tell me?
“Look at the goal against Stoke, I could see what was going to happen. This is Arsenal Football Club, you can’t be playing Bellerin, a right back playing left back, and Monreal playing in a three. What is it? It has to stop! It can’t keep going on like this.
“Arsenal have got players going forward in abundance, but you’ve got to be strong at the back!”
I don’t agree with everything Mers’ says here because a lot of the decisions that Wenger’s made surrounding Arsenal’s back three haven’t really been the manager’s choice.
Laurent Koscielny has been suspended, Per Mertesacker has only just returned from a head injury he picked up during the Community Shield, Gabriel has signed for Valencia, Calum Chambers is suffering from a groin strain and 21-year-old Rob Holding is scared of his own shadow after his poor display against Leicester.
What I do agree with, however, is that the problems Arsenal experience in general when it comes to their defending have been there for years and should have been sorted by now. Instead, it’s the same old s**t but a different day.
It’s hugely frustrating and as someone who used to play for the club, it’s understandable that Merson is so passionate about it. Even if I don’t usually agree with him.