After Arsenal’s 2-2 draw against Chelsea, Paul Merson shared his views on the Gunners’ position in the title race, emphasising that they now need to find a way to win consistently if they hope to keep pace with the league leaders. Merson watched the tightly contested London derby, where Mikel Arteta’s side missed an opportunity to narrow the gap at the top of the Premier League.
Arsenal’s performance has been inconsistent in recent weeks, and they were looking to secure a statement win at Stamford Bridge to build momentum. With Liverpool enjoying an impressive season and maintaining an edge at the top, the pressure on Arsenal to close the points gap has only intensified. Meanwhile, although Manchester City hasn’t been at their best, they remain a significant threat. A win over Chelsea could have given Arsenal a solid footing in the title race, but the draw instead places more pressure on Arteta’s men to perform steadily going forward.
Merson highlighted this pressure during his post-match commentary on Sky Sports, where he urged the Gunners to use the international break to regroup and come back stronger. “Chelsea is not an easy place to come, it is not a great result for Arsenal, who now need to kick on and go bang and win seven in a row after the international break,”
If Arsenal wants to remain serious contenders for the Premier League title, they’ll need to find consistency immediately. Arteta’s team has demonstrated the quality to compete with top clubs, but they must now translate that quality into consistent victories. The team’s recent struggles to close out games with a win reveal areas to work on, particularly in maintaining defensive strength under pressure. This upcoming stretch of fixtures after the international break will be critical, testing Arsenal’s resolve and resilience.
A strong response, as Merson suggests, could prove pivotal in rekindling Arsenal’s hopes of challenging for the title.
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The big big minus this season is the way we are playing. We play so careful and non risk football. We are looking for dead ball situations instead of dynamic forwards play. We are getting a lead and trying to defend it, instead of trying to actually win it. Our football is very very predictable and teams are sussing us out. I fear we have peaked under Arteta. I dont see us playing above our capabilities. We are nothing special and look just a good solidish side. We are missing a forward and we are over reliant on our right side. Im not excited by what I have seen so far and I think I should be. Are we stale and predictable? I think so. It is impossible for us to go on a 7 match run, the way we are playing.
Spot on. We need a top striker, a left winger to challenge Martinelli. I think trossard has lost his magic. I saw that resilience in one of those early league matches against Mancity and others, it seems we lost it. Last season we used to show that winining mentality even with a goal down we used to win games but I dont see that anymore.
“I fear we have peaked under Arteta”.
I don’t think we have “picked” as such. I think it’s more a question of the imbalance in the team right now. And that is all down to the summer window transfer business.
* Selling Smith-Rowe and sending Vieira on loan without addressing the resultant vacuum.
* Buying Calafiori while still retaining Kiwior and Zinchenko ( I won’t talk of Tierney because his is a special case!)
* Failing to buy a top striker and a proper winger like Pedro Neto despite being perpetually linked with him.
I don’t know if it’s about the money – with PSR, FPP and all that; but the fact is that the team has lost some equilibrium from our sub-optimal transfer business.
If these failings are addressed, the team would definitely pick up and reach new heights.
“peaked”
I still think we have peaked.