Arsenal’s draw against Inter Milan in the Champions League has left Paul Merson with a clear message for manager Mikel Arteta: Start Martin Odegaard against Chelsea on Sunday. With Liverpool and Manchester City potentially extending their leads at the top of the table, Merson believes Arsenal can’t afford to drop points and that Odegaard’s creative spark is exactly what they need.
“If they both win, I think Martin Odegaard must start,” Merson declared. “Ten and nine points is a lot of ground to make up if they both win. The game against Chelsea will be a must-win. Unless he’s not going away with Norway, I think he has to be thrown in.”
While Merson praised Arsenal’s performance against Inter, he believes they lacked that crucial element of guile to break down the Italian side. “Arsenal were good against Inter Milan, who are a decent team, but the only thing missing was that guile,” he explained. “They dominated and should have come away with at least a draw. Arsenal have earned the right around Europe, teams will sit back and they need someone like Odegaard to put the ball through the eye of the needle.”
The former Arsenal midfielder also took aim at the controversial refereeing decisions in the match, particularly the decision to not award a penalty for a handball by Inter defender, Mikel Merino. “The two refereeing decisions were both poor,” Merson argued. “Mikel Merino was not even a yard away and he can’t defend that with his arms behind his back because he would fall over! At the other end, Yann Sommer punches his head off. It’s as stonewall as it gets. It is phenomenal how one is a penalty, and one is not.”
Merson’s analysis also extended beyond Arsenal’s performance. He expressed concern over Edu’s departure from the club, drawing parallels to the impact of David Dein’s exit. “Edu leaving is a worry for Arsenal,” he said. “It will be a big miss and reminds me of David Dein leaving Arsenal. The quality of player they brought in was phenomenal while he was at the club. Then he left and there were a lot of players who played for Arsenal and were not good enough. We will have to watch this space.”
Looking ahead to the upcoming transfer window, Merson offered his insights on several key issues, including Manchester United’s potential appointment of Ruben Amorim. “My problem with Amorim is he plays three at the back,” he said. “He would have ticked the boxes at Chelsea, but Enzo Maresca has done fantastic. You look at United and they haven’t got a dominant forward, attacking midfielders, defenders who are quick at the back and do not have wing-backs. There is a lot of work to be done, this change will not happen overnight.”
Merson also questioned the rumored £100m price tag for Viktor Gyokeres, suggesting it might be too high. He believes the Swedish striker could be a valuable addition, but ultimately, Manchester United needs to find a solution for their attacking midfield and defensive weaknesses. “They probably will [buy Viktor Gyokeres],” he said. “But £100m is too much. He will want someone like him and I think he will try to get him next season as you need to score goals. Bruno Fernandes will end up being a No 10 but I worry for people like Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho, I don’t know where they will play. They are not wing-backs. It is one of the hardest positions in football, you have to get up the wing, cross the ball and get back to defend. They call it the graveyard shift in football. It is hard!”
Turning his attention to Manchester City, Merson highlighted the impact of Rodri’s absence and the challenges Pep Guardiola faces in finding a solution. “Pep Guardiola has to find the solution at Man City,” Merson stated. “They miss Rodri, the one who ticks it along and protects the back four. Mateo Kovacic is good but he is a better runner with the ball but, when he does that, he closes everything in. Rodri gets it on the half turn and gives the players that will make things happen time on the ball. Without Rodri, it will be difficult. They will find a way of doing it, but, at the moment, teams have to make hay while the sun shines! This patch of form won’t continue for much longer.”
Finally, Merson touched upon Liverpool’s recent form, suggesting that their dominance isn’t likely to fade anytime soon. “People are waiting for the Liverpool bubble to burst and it hasn’t!” he exclaimed. “I did the game last week against Brighton and they were unlucky. Fabian Hurzeler’s side should have gone two up but Liverpool just keep on finding a way. They keep on going and keep winning. They have goals in the team and they are dangerous.”
With his usual blend of insightful analysis and colorful commentary, Merson has provided a compelling look at the key storylines shaping the Premier League and beyond.
