Latest news with #Merson
Metro
3 days ago
- Sport
- Metro
Paul Merson makes Man Utd vs Arsenal predication in 'must-win' for Gunners
Paul Merson feels the trip to Manchester United on Sunday is absolutely critical for Arsenal and their Premier League title hopes this season. The new campaign gets going on Friday night as the defending champions Liverpool host Bournemouth, with the most eye-catching game of the first weekend coming on Sunday. The Red Devils host the Gunners at Old Trafford with Ruben Amorim hoping to prove that his team are much improved from last season's disaster, while Mikel Arteta wants to take the first step on a title challenge. Arsenal have finished second in each of the last three seasons and the pressure is starting to mount on the Spaniard to deliver a significant piece of silverware in the near future. Merson feels the Gunners have to get their campaign off with a win, especially with very difficult games to follow, which could see them lose ground early in the title race. Metro's new weekly football newsletter: In The Mixer. Exclusive analysis, FPL tips and transfer talk sent straight to your inbox every Friday – sign up, it's an open goal. The former England star told SportsKeeda: 'This is a must-win game for Arsenal, it's as simple as that! If you have a look at their fixtures after this weekend, it goes like – Leeds United at home, Liverpool away, Forest and Man City at home before a trip to Newcastle. 'If they don't beat Manchester United on Sunday, I don't expect them to beat Liverpool and City during this run! So all of a sudden, they could be seven or nine points behind in the title race. 'Viktor Gyokeres scored a brilliant header in pre-season. When Arsenal are under pressure in certain games, he will become a nuisance to opponents by running the channels and working the defenders. He's a real presence in front of goal and you can count on him to cause problems to opponents. 'I think Arsenal can win the league, if they can keep all their main players fit. I'd be shocked if Gyokeres, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard all play 35 games and arsenal still don't win the Premier League. They are massive favourites if that happens.' It is a big claim to put Arsenal as 'massive favourites' ahead of Liverpool and Manchester City if they just keep their players fit, but Merson is backing the club where he became an icon. He is also backing them to pick up the all important win on Sunday, tipped the Gunners to head back to north London with a 2-1 victory. Manchester United legends Roy Keane and Gary Neville also discussed the fixture on the Stick to Football podcast, with the Irishman agreeing with Merson's prediction of 2-1 to Arsenal. Neville, though, has backed his former club for a dream start to the season. 'United are winning that,' said Neville. 'I'm going United, 2-1. I just think it's a really bad game for Arsenal to get first up. I think it's a challenging game for Arsenal first up.' More Trending Alan Shearer has gone for the other option, tipping a draw at Old Trafford this weekend. The Premier League legend told Metro: 'It's wonderful for us to sit down on Sunday and watch two giants go head to head so early in the season. Tough one to call but I'll go for a draw. 'There's always a surprise result on the opening weekend. I don't know what a surprise result would be in this game. It's so tough to call with so many interesting moving parts. Gyokores on one side, Sesko on the other. 'Amorim and Gyokores know each other really well. Zubimendi may free up Declan Rice more, Man United have done really well in forward positions. It's a tough one to call so early in the season. There'll be needle at Old Trafford.' MORE: Man Utd make final decision on Carlos Baleba transfer pursuit after Brighton talks MORE: Nuno Espirito Santo makes startling admission about 'major problem' at Nottingham Forest MORE: Ruben Amorim reveals midfield alternative if Man Utd don't sign Carlos Baleba
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Paul Merson says Liverpool have major title problem after 'something he'd never seen before'
Liverpool get the defence of their Premier League crown underway this weekend but former Arsenal star Paul Merson has concerns over the Reds this term that could end up costing them Paul Merson has slammed Mohamed Salah for the worst display he's ever seen on the eve of Liverpool's new Premier League campaign. The Reds head into the new campaign as defending champions. But the season has not got off to the best of starts, with Liverpool having fallen to defeat to Crystal Palace in the Community Shield. And Merson was worried by what he saw at Wembley - particularly Salah's performance. The Arsenal icon has suggested that the Egyptian's relationship with summer signing Jeremie Frimpong could be exposed over the coming campaign. Speaking on Sky Sports, Merson said: 'It was a bit of a worrying performance from Salah at Wembley. I don't think I've seen a player play that badly before in a football match. 'But that can be Salah. He can go missing for a few weeks before going on a run of scoring in 10 matches on the trot or smashing in a hat-trick. 'One thing that might be difficult for him this season is playing in front of Jeremie Frimpong. Compared to Trent Alexander-Arnold, he's more like an attacking winger.' Merson added: 'With Trent, Salah could make any run and he'd be picked out. Trent would also attract defenders, leaving Salah more space. Trent could destroy you himself. 'Frimpong's a good player but he's not a destroyer. He plays so far forward that he's not a natural defender. 'Trent wasn't either but the same thing applies really, I think Ibrahima Konate could be too exposed. There's a major problem down that side of the pitch, even more so than last season.' Frimpong joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen this summer for a fee of £29.5m. Despite Merson's reservations, he got his Liverpool career off to a bright start by scoring at Wembley. Liverpool get their Premier League campaign underway on Friday evening as they welcome Bournemouth to Anfield. Salah will certainly be aiming to prove Merson wrong with his own bright start. The 33-year-old enjoyed another stunning 24/25 with 34 goals and 23 assists in all competitions. Salah also has a brilliant record against this weekend's opponents Bournemouth with 11 goals in just 12 career appearances against the Cherries. Following their clash with Bournemouth, Liverpool then take on Newcastle having been wrapped up in a transfer saga with the Magpies concerning their star striker Alexander Isak.
Daily Mirror
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Arsenal title winner worried Mikel Arteta could 'end up like Arsene Wenger'
Mikel Arteta has led Arsenal to Champions League qualification once again but one of the Gunners' former title winners fears for the manager if a trophy doesn't follow Paul Merson, who played under Arsene Wenger in the manager's first season at Arsenal, is worried Mikel Arteta is in danger of repeating Wenger's downfall in North London. The England international, who won a cup double with the Gunners in 1993 as well as two league titles, made the comments on Sky Sports during coverage of the Gunnerss weekend win against Newcastle. That victory ensured Arteta's team will qualify for the Champions League once more. They are likely to enter as Premier League runners-up, barring a defeat against relegated Southampton and a significant goal difference swing to Manchester City. It would be the third time in a row that Arsenal have finished second in the league, but a lack of trophies is of greater concern to Merson. Arteta led the club to FA Cup glory in his first season, but hasn't been able to follow it with another league or cup triumph. Merson recognises Arteta has taken the club forward in his time at the helm. However, he fears a repeat of Wenger's struggles, culminating in the long-serving Frenchman leaving with a whimper - unless Arteta gets the transfer backing he needs. "If you look at the all-round picture, four/five years ago they were also-rans, the club's gone, it's going nowhere," Merson said. "He [Arteta] put the heart back in the club. The fans are here, they turn up every week again. They're not far away, they need a centre forward. "[They've had] a couple of injuries here and there and I know people go, 'everyone has injuries', no, they don't. Not to key, key players. I always say it, if you took [Mohamed] Salah and [Virgil van] Dijk out of that Liverpool team, believe me that is not winning the league if they're out for a long period of time. "And that's what's happened, [Bukayo] Saka's a big player for them, [Kai] Havertz, people have a go at him, he's a big player. When he hasn't been playing he's been missed. "They need a couple of players. I hope he doesn't end up like [Arsene] Wenger did a couple of years into his reign when everyone knew they needed a centre-back. They need a centre forward." Merson's comments come after Arsenal co-chair Josh Kroenke indicated there will be money to spend this summer. Arteta, to his credit, also recognised he has received the backing of the board over his time in charge. "We plan to invest to get behind winning and doing better next season," Kroenke wrote in the programme ahead of the Newcastle game. "We're delighted we have our sporting director, Andrea [Berta], who will play an important role in this. "He is part of a unified and strong team, supported by the board, who are crystal clear on exactly what we need to do and the way in which we want to do it. The right way. The Arsenal way." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Metro
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Metro
Paul Merson predicts Mikel Arteta sacking could be surprisingly close
Paul Merson reckons Arsenal could sack Mikel Arteta by the end of the year if the Gunners are not in the top two in the Premier League table at that point. Arsenal almost certainly secured a third straight second-place finish in the Premier League this season thanks to a 1-0 win over Newcastle at the Emirates on Sunday. It has been another good campaign, which included an impressive run to the semi-finals of the Champions League, but it will be another without silverware for Arsenal. Arteta took over in 2019 and his only major trophy remains the FA Cup in 2020, despite clear progress being made under the Spaniard. Merson reckons consistency will only get Arteta so far and unless he is in contention to win the Premier League title at Christmas time then the Arsenal hierarchy could decide to swing the axe. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. 'Problem is with this Arsenal team. I'm trying to back them up and say they're a good team but you've got to win something,' Merson said on Sky Sports. 'It's not easy. Every time it gets to the latter stages they go and that would be my worry. 'I think Arteta's got till Christmas till everybody starts…they will have to be in the top two at Christmas to keep on going. 'I think next season. If you get to four [seasons] then no, you can't [keep going]. 'Everybody wants to play for Arsenal, people will come to Arsenal, so it's not like they're struggling to get players and they've got the money. 'For me, next year he's got to be in the top two by Christmas or they'll go for someone else, they will!' Merson believes Arsenal are in a good enough position to be lifting trophies and must get their hands on silverware while they are in such a state, because it can all go wrong very quickly. 'It's timing. When it's your time you've got to make it count,' he said. 'You see it go in circles. Look at Liverpool, they went 30 years without a title, a club like that! Then it comes round and they win trophies. 'You've got to make it count. Man United were dominant, look at them now! I just think they have to make it count.' Merson is sympathetic to Arteta, hailing the job he has done with the club and noting that he has been dealing with notable injuries this season. However, he will have less sympathy for his former club if they do not sign a new striker this summer, as Merson feels that problem is clear and obvious. More Trending 'If you look at the all-round picture, four/five years ago they were also-rans, the club's gone, it's going nowhere. He [Arteta] put the heart back in the club,' he said. 'The fans are here, they turn up every week again. They're not far away, they need a centre forward. 'A couple of injuries here and there and I know people go, 'everyone has injuries', no, they don't. Not to key, key players. I always say it, if you took [Mohamed] Salah and [Virgil van] Dijk out of that Liverpool team, believe me that is not winning the league if they're out for a long period of time. 'And that's what's happened, [Bukayo] Saka's a big player for them, [Kai] Havertz, people have a go at him, he's a big player. When he hasn't been playing he's been missed. 'They need a couple of players. I hope he doesn't end up like [Arsene] Wenger did a couple of years into his reign when everyone knew they needed a centre-back. They need a centre forward.' MORE: Mikel Arteta aims dig at Man Utd and Tottenham as Arsenal confirm second place finish MORE: Taiwo Awoniyi speaks out and is 'still fighting' after waking from coma MORE: What Chelsea, Newcastle and Man City need to qualify for the Champions League
South Wales Guardian
16-05-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Merson praises manager as viral strike scoops Goal of the Season award
The forward perfectly controlled a long punt down field before pirouetting and volleying the ball into the net after it had popped over his shoulder. Despite not being able to collect the award in person, director Dave Brown read out Merson's acceptance speech, in which he said: 'Thank you to all who voted for my goal. 'I am extremely proud to have received this award. 'I would like to thank Hanworth Villa and the fans for all their support over the last six seasons. 'I would also like to especially thank my manager Simon Haughney and his assistant Paul Thomas for giving me the freedom to play my game and attempt shots as I see fit without any criticism, even when they do not come off! 'That night against Farnham, the pass was floated up to me and my first thought was to get it under control. 'I had already seen the keeper was off his line and as I made the first touch, I was aware scoring was on, so I hit it goalwards knowing if it was on target, with the keeper where he was, it was on. 'And what a great feeling it was when it went in. 'The fallout from the goal and the socials associated with it has gone viral and it is a great feeling and one that has made me and my family all very proud.' And Brown, who also works as a voluntary member of the ground staff at Hanworth Villa, who finished third in the Isthmian League South Central Division before missing out on promotion due to a 2-1 play-off final loss to Uxbridge, expressed how proud the club was of Merson and that the reaction on social media was a testament to how good the goal was. 'We love him,' said Brown. 'I cannot fault the man. He deserves everything he gets for this award. It went viral, people around the world have seen it, not just in the UK, but around the world! It is fantastic for him. 'He meant it from the moment the ball came to him, he knew he was going to score. 'He shoots with that level of confidence all the time, from anywhere too, whether it is outside the box or from odd angles. 'And his skill is that he hits the ball early, before anyone can get set, so it was no surprise to see him score and it is great for him to be recognised for it here today.' The National Game Awards is a celebration of the non-league season - highlighting the community, fans, on-field, and off-field successes of the game outside of the English Football League. The ceremony is held each year by the Non-League Paper, the UK's number one selling football title and the best place for your non-league news, with this year's event held at Plough Lane - home of AFC Wimbledon. The Non-League Paper is the UK's number one selling football title, available every Sunday. For more information please visit
