While I am fully aware that not every Arsenal is as positive about the team and the quality that is available to Arsene Wenger in the Arsenal squad as I am, or as optimistic about our chances of success this season or even this weekend as we travel to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, but I nearly spat out my beer when I saw the team picked by the former Arsenal and England midfielder Paul Merson as a combined best XI from the two London rivals.
Just one Arsenal player makes his team and that is Alexis Sanchez, so he is not even going on current form but reputation. Or that is how it looks although Merson explained to Sky Sports that the reason why Laurent Koscielny misses out to the Chelsea trio of Cahill, Azpilicueta and Luiz is because he has been in good form.
Is he having a laugh Gooners? The French centre back has been widely accepted to be one of the best in the EPL for the last few years, but Merson reckons that it is actually the aging and slow Per Mertesacker who is our best defender.
He ignores the impact of our brilliant summer signing Sead Kolasinac on the left of the fleet footed and influential young Spaniard Hector Bellerin on the right and just to add insult to injury he picks our former player Fabregas, who struggles to get a game for Chelsea, ahead of the likes of Ozil and Ramsey.
Alvaro Morata may be a good signing for Chelsea. He certainly has potential but it is way too soon to say, but not for Merson who picks him over the prolific and proven Olivier Giroud as the central striker. Do we really need any more evidence that Merson has it in for Arsenal?
Sam P.