Paul Merson urges Arsenal to pay £40m to get Brendan Rodgers.
If Paul Merson was the man in charge of hiring and firing managers at Arsenal he would have fired Unai Emery and replaced him with Brendan Rodgers. He also believes whoever is in charge of that decision should make it immediately.
Emery has struggled since he came to Arsenal while Brendan Rogers has taken less than a season to make second-placed Leicester City title challengers.
While the Gunners lose to teams like Sheffield United, Leicester have gone to Saint Mary’s and beaten Southampton 9-0. And of course, they beat Emery’s men just last week.
The former Gunner believes it is not a coincidence that Arsenal was beaten at the King Power Stadium and that it shows why they should be getting the former Liverpool boss no matter the cost.
Pay £40 Million for Rodgers
“I think he’s one of the best in the business,” he told Sky Sports.
“I’m a massive fan, and if I was Arsenal, I’d have been ringing up Leicester and asking, ’how much do you want?’
.
“They’ve paid £72m for a winger who hasn’t played in the Premier League and has played in the French league [Nicolas Pepe]. I would pay £40m for Brendan Rodgers tomorrow morning.
“First of all, you give him a six-year contract. If he went into Arsenal tomorrow, he would make every single player better.
“He would improve them, and he would make them play a way that they all understand.
“At Leicester, he’s brought in Youri Tielemans and the centre-half Caglar Soyuncu [into the team]. But he’s sold Harry Maguire for £80m.
“He’s getting a tune out of every single player and Jamie Vardy is better than anyone in the league at the moment. He’s the best centre forward in the country at the moment.
“It’s only because Jonny Evans played for West Brom that Arsenal didn’t buy him.”
Merson does talk some rubbish at times. One could easily pick a ton of holes in his comments, but what it the point? He has spent his punditry career attacking Arsenal at every opportunity. I doubt he would ever listen to reason about his former club. He seems to have some sort of agenda.
I mean, does anyone really think that Rodgers is worth £40 Million? If you do, fine but at least check his finishing positions every season when he was in charge of Liverpool. Not as impressive as you may think.
I am not saying Rodgers would not do a good job at Arsenal but some perspective, please. We are not talking Jurgen Klopp here.
He’s spot on about Jonny Evans actually. Even when we were linked with Sokratis for 20mill I was wondering if he were worth it. Arsenal have a terrible habit of automatically looking to foreign clubs for players instead of EPL proven players. You could say we got David Luiz, but he’s hardly a player who has ever had a reputation for being an astute defender. Evans was brought to Leicester for 3-4 mill. For a club that likes bargains you’d think we would’ve been all over that. As for his Rodgers opinions, Arsenal should consider. I still don’t think he’d leave Leicester mid-season when they are all the way in 3rd place and possibly title challengers actually. I’m not his biggest fan but so far he’s been proving me wrong in terms of his capabilities. He at least know how to get the best out of attackers.
Not saying Evans wouldve come close to solving our problems, but there’s nobody who can say Sokratis has panned out to be the best signing for us, and we couldve gone way cheaper and gotten the similar quality.
we were heavily linked to Evans back in Jan 2018 when we were seriously need of a centreback and Evans price tag fit our price tag
but fans were protesting and complaining Evans was not good enough
Merson is always attacking Arsenal if he is that good he should go back in management he did a great job at Walsall haha haha
We were linked with Soyuncu and he joined Leicester, a proper defender who cost less than Sokratis and much younger.
We were linked with Evans and he joined Leicester, another decent defender, I think he cost less than Luiz.
We were linked with Cahill and he joined Palace, another decent defender, he cost nothing, a free transfer.
We were linked with Zaha and we got Pepé.
We were linked with Arteta and we got Emery.
I’m depressed.
Declan please don’t be depressed. Those players won’t look as half good as are if they are playing for us. It is as if Arsenal is cursed
Which club has he seen paid that much for a coach. It is ridiculous to say we should pay £40m to secure a coach when his club paid less than 5m for him.
He’s making a point that if we wasted 70m and im not saying we did why not pay £40m for someone who’s known for making players better and playing youth
The £40 million is more about Merson’s estimate of the amount to buy out Roger’s contract with Leicester City, plus the new contract with Arsenal.
I like merse, hes a character and everything he says makes me laugh, even when he is serious. Colourful and always talks crap but not in a bad way. Funny thing is he wasn’t a model footballer and he was a crap manager but one of skys characters.
If only it was that easy!
You looking forward to the international break Sue 😀
Hello Kevin! You never know, we may actually be good to go against the Saints… 🙈 As bad as it’s been, we’ll be pining for Arsenal after these 2 weeks! The doom and gloom may have lifted by then 😬 At least the darts has kept me occupied! 💪
How’s you anyway, Kev?!
I’m sick Sue I have a flu and no not man flu proper flu with chest infection 🤧🤒 I’ve had to postpone my move until Monday 😬 haha yeah one sniff of the internationals we’ll be crying for the premier League 😆 I’m watching sky Christmas 😂 how’s you Sue ? 🙂
Love how you say ‘no not man flu’ what made you think I was gonna say that?! 😜 Oh dear, lemsip, paracetamol and antibiotics?
Just imagine if we lose to the Saints? Oh my…. Actually, I think we’ll turn up, bag 3 points and go on a winning run.. at least until… the following week 😄
I’m ok thanks, back to work tomorrow ☹
Sky Christmas 😊
No antibiotics Sue my doc has a no prescription attitude, he wouldn’t even entertain a bottle of antacid 😂😂😂 no just Beecham’s honey and covonia , all you women say that 😂😂😂 you know what Sue it wouldn’t surprise me if Southampton turn us over 😬 and if we do win it’s just papering over cracks as we know we’ll still be rubbish 😛 oh how long have you been off ? Haha yeah jingle all the way and now miracle on 34th Street 😂😂
18 days 😉
Tis the season to be jolly, Kev! I’m excited!!
So this is the last break until….?
Our games after the last break were disastrous, I’m betting this next lot won’t be as bad 🙈 I guess we’ll have to get on with it though, if the board are serious about backing him! Surely there’ll be a shortage of blood pressure medication in the country!
That’s a long time it’ll be like your first day back at school Sue 😄 I noticed giving how you put your tree up already 😉😆 but we just don’t know this is Unai Emery’s Arsenal they love to shock and disappoint 😂 the board don’t know their a*se from a hole in the ground 😂 haha and defibrillators 😂😂😂 until March 😃
Haha it will be! Have to be introduced to everyone again! And it looks lush too, Kev! 🎄
Did you see that some ‘wonderkid’ from Colorado Rapids will train with our U23’s, and maybe move here in January? I think he’s 18.
Do you ever get so fed up you think that’s it, had enough, not watching or going anymore. Will spend my time/money on something else? The thought has crossed my mind, but I can’t do it! Besides tickets come out for the City game a week Friday! Ooh 🦵🦵 Hahaha!
So I’m guessing it’s not fibre optic then Sue ? That’s what I have I can’t be bothered decorating a tree 😂 another would be wonder kid oh the excitement 😬 oh many times Sue tbh with you defeats don’t even hurt anymore we’ve been average for so long I just accept what we are and any frustrations I have is on that dinosaur board! I’ve always said we’re going nowhere with those old relics about! Hahaha keep your eyes on the red and white and forget thighs 😂😂 haha
No, that’s cheating! I remember you said last year, that your daughter preferred her Mum’s!! 🤭
A wonder kid is probably as good as it’ll get, Kev. We’re still paying for Pepe, Torreira… any others?!
I can’t promise that, will be mesmerized 😂
Yes she does but her mother is Christmas obsessed probably like you ? 😂 I prefer the build up to Christmas than Christmas itself, I much prefer boxing day 😆 still paying for a man that we don’t play 😂 maybe we could loan him out with saliba might have to because champions League looks a million miles away 😛 you won’t be if he scores 😂
Sue have you seen a fella called Conor Moore on YouTube doing Unai Emery my face is sore especially that end bit 😂😂😂😂😂
Oh yes we’re still paying for Saliba too! 😳
🎄 must be a female thing!!
Box day is an anti climax!
Haha true, I won’t see anything through my tears 😂 doubt I’ll manage to get tickets anyway. All the big games are sold out in no time!!
The way Arsenal are playing you’d get a ticket with a ribbon on it 😂😂😂 haha so no transfer window next season 😛 no I know fellas who are big Christmas kids at heart 😂 you think so ? I find it more chistmasy than Christmas day 😂
We were linked with Van Dijk when he was at Celtic, Southampton got him. The story of our life over the past decade, we have a blind spot when it comes to buying decent defenders!
Sorry this was in response to Declan’s earlier post.
👍
Kev.. I just looked at it 😂😂 he’s as good as that Darren Farley!!! Hilarious!
Haha it was brilliant Sue the facial expressions and the way he walk away at the end 😂😂
Nearly as good as that Farley’s eyes!! Poor Unai, everyone rips it out of him!
Yes, Christmas is over then 😉
Right, Kev.. I need sleep! I hope you feel a bit better tomorrow! Enjoy your movies, Mr Zane!!
Goodnight Kevin 😁🤒😴
Maybe we’ll have some good news regarding Arsenal tomorrow?! 😬
Haha he brings it on himself 😛 well I’ll remind on boxing Day to take down your tree 😛 haha ok Sue goodnight and enjoy your first day back at the grind tomorrow 😃 haha you wish 😂 thank you Sue hopefully 😊😴😴😴💤💤
Kev & Sue, please remember that this is a football forum on precise topic. With all due respect we do not need to have all forum on your personal lives, don’t you have a WhatsApp or messenger to dialogue?
I don’t read, as soon as see personal, that’s not why we here, with all due respect; topic is as time we in; looking to read comments o. topic and this I just crashing the all forum! Thank you to exchange fb or whatever to keep this flowing free and great as it seems to be. Thx
Who cares? Everyone we’re linked to that we Eventually get, we make worse. Even managers. I bet if Merson’s dickheaded judgement comes to pass, Leicester will let Brendan come to us on this simple clause: MAKE US CRAP FOR THE REST OF ETERNITY. Ie intentionally fail at his job here then take another job to easily restore his reputation. Only here do we tolerate a lack of professionalism from everyone involved…
What Arsenal should do is start with a better lineup and formation and play with guile and unpredictability.
Following is a lineup and formation for the EPL that I see working with the current crop of players available. Also, some tactics for this lineup and formation further below.
…………………… Leno
…………Chambers…Sokratis…..Holding
..Bellerin…………..Luiz(c)………………Tierney
Pepe…………..Ozil/Laca/Ceballos…………..Saka/Martinelli
…………………….Auba
Key tactics with this lineup and formation:
1. Luiz should be the captain and dictate the game from the core. Luiz can fall back to defend as well as take the ball forward, distribute long balls, the things he is most comfortable with. Luiz is by far the most versatile asset we have at our hand!
2. Dealing with threats down the center of the pitch: Sokratis can assist Luiz in defense, in a more advanced position. Holding and Chambers can then tighten up the gaps behind allowing Bellerin and Tierney to fall back to form a more traditional 4 man defense. Here Sokratis and Luiz would basically be our DMs and in case they tackle rashly, which they are liable to, it would happen outside the box, so no dread of penalties.
3. When dealing with threats from the wide: Chambers and Holding will have a hold up role in defense allowing Bellerin and Tierney to react with their pace in case they are higher up the pitch, and Luiz can fall back with Sokratis to defend any crosses to the box. Mean while our attacking quad will be waiting just outside the box, ready to counter with uber pace. In case an opponent player decides to cut in from the wing, the tactic 2 will come to play, with Sokratis joining in with Luiz as DMs and pressurize them outside the box. And Bellerin, Chamber, Holding and Tierney as 4 man defense behind.
4. When attacking: The duo of Bellerin/Pepe and Tierney/Saka or Martinelli, can really wreck havoc by mixing it up as they like. Bellerin/Tierney can either cut to the center midfield engaging with Luiz and Ozil/Laca in front, allowing Pepe/Saka to go really wide. Luiz can then either lob balls to them, or pass it up to Ozil to attack through the center. Many possibilities and mixups!
Alternatively, Pepe/Saka-Martinelli can cut to center further up the pitch, just outside the opposition box and engage with Ozil/Laca and Luiz behind to hold play up allowing Bellerin and Tierney to go wide. Luiz can again lob balls anywhere, or through Ozil. Bellerin/Tierney can receive the ball either through Luiz, or Ozil and either attack the box themselves and cross to Auba or Ozil in the middle or provide cutbacks for Pepe/Saka-Martinelli to have a go at goal. And in case, we are caught by a counter attack, we will still have four dedicated CBs behind.
Yes, no Guendouzi/Torreira/Willock! They severely lack pace and physicality to be useful in EPL and aren’t exactly brilliant with the ball at their feet to compensate for their lack of pace. They slow down both our Offense and defense considerably. Also, no playing out from the back, unless absolutely necessary. If Leno receives the ball get it asap to Luiz, either through Tierney or Bellerin, but not through our CBs within the box.
I’ve given up listening to Merson, he only says things which are stupid because he thinks he has to keep up the image of him being thick. Does he really think Leicester will gladly let Rodgers go, doesn’t matter how much we offer. What Merson should have said is that we should have got him from Celtic before Leicester did.
Oops! Sorry to all, get a bit carried away! Strictly Arsenal, remember!! 👍
Merson said go and get Rodgers, did he, what’d he say last season, or before Emery signed, was it always Brendan. I think he fancied Sean Douche if I’m remembering right. Leic have a good crop of players, and they all work their socks off for most part, they’re a settled team, and being a long shot suits them fine.
It’s a different story at Arsenal, and he’ll likely want some of his own players ..esp if he joins us. Some of these pundits are just like the fans, they go straight for the flavor of the month or the man of the season, looking for a straightforward answer. Head of a footy club would usually have to be a bit stronger, not acting on a whim so much. Anyone who gets an offer to come to Arsenal, will need to believe that they’ll get the full backing and a certain amount of loyalty, esp in a rough patch.
Brendan is not proven/top pedigree as mentioned above. He might be a good fit though, also mentioned above, but that Leic team, he didn’t build it, there’s really good experience in that side. Being a coach at that club is very different to AFC, fans have run out of patience so it’s a lot of pressure. I think that’s why the club wants to see if Emery can come through this period and if players can become more intune with one another, after a little more time, because there’s a lot of new faces and even some older ones never rightly settled in well enough for many fans. Emery knows that in the second half of the season, there will need to be positive signs going forward.
I’d advise him to take a leaf out of Wengers book and stop with the constant formation and player changes, need continuity if you’re going to play good football. And don’t ask the players which guy do they prefer playing alongside, I initially thought that was a forward thinking move, but what if they all start giving odd answers, could that be why he’s gone mad with the formations. We need a settled first eleven and we need a main formation, I know he wants them to be able to adapt to many/multiple formation setups but how likely is that, has he ever seen a team that is equally comfortable playing three or four different setups, cause I never have. Start making calls Emery, don’t let players and fans choose, and take some extra classes in English. Good luck boss, I hope you/we can pull through this period and you manage to bring that brand of football that had Merson and Charlie drooling over you whenever facing English sides.