Paul Merson urges Brendan Rodgers to look at the bigger picture and join Arsenal, but he reveals a major worry.
Arsenal fired Unai Emery last week after 18 months of underachievement and they are now looking for a new manager to take the hot seat permanently.
They have named Freddie Ljungberg as their interim manager but the search for a new permanent manager has begun.
Merson believes that Brendan Rodgers is the right man for the job and he has even urged the Leicester manager to forget about Arsenal’s present predicaments and join the Gunners, however, he is worried that Arsenal’s players are not up to the required standard to help the club compete.
Merson told Sky Sports as cited in the Metro: ‘It was not good enough [Arsenal’s defending at Norwich]. ‘I worry for Arsenal as I just do not think the players are good enough. I feel sorry for them as they are playing at a big football club and they are so far out of their depth.
‘It is sad to watch now and I feel for the fans. All good teams start from the front. ‘You look at Liverpool and their front free are the best closing-down front three that you will see in any league. You look at Arsenal and there is no closing down up front. ‘There are loads of players sitting there now thinking, “I’d like to play against Arsenal.” And that is not right.’
While urging Rodgers to make the move to Arsenal, Merson added:
‘He [Rodgers] is happy and Leicester are the best team in the league at the moment,’ Merson added.
‘Do not look at the next six months though, you have to look at the all-round picture and the next five years.
‘This [Arsenal] is a big, big football club. He has managed Liverpool, but Arsenal are one of the top 10 clubs in Europe and in my opinion, I think he does [take the job]. ‘Do not let the points gap between them now cloud your judgement.’
The board is the problem
Not sure it is Rodgers that Merson should be urging but rather the Arsenal board.
Arsenal are a huge club, yes, they have problems but they can be overcome with the right manager and investment. But I get the feeling that this current board simply lack the vision required. That said, I do think that the job would be too big for Rodgers to turn down.
His ego alone would make him grab the opportunity if it is presented to him.