Paul Merson has controversially claimed that Arsene Wenger would win the Premier League with Arsenal if he had ‘Harry Redknapp’s tactical nous’.
The former forward played under both managers during his playing career, although the player decided to leave the Gunners shortly after the Frenchman taking up his role in North London.
Merson surprisingly opted to leave the club after Wenger completed his first season as coach, despite being offered a two-year extension, and left to join relegated Middlesbrough, becoming the record signing for any non-Premier League side in England at the time.
This could tell you something about his opinion on the Arsenal boss, and the former Gunner has now claimed that Redknapp is more astute tactically then the long-standing Arsenal manager.
“People say he (Redknapp) is a wheeler-dealer and it’s so disrespectful,” said Merson, who played under both Wenger and Redknapp during his career.
“Tactically, he’s one of the best I’ve worked with. If Arsene Wenger had Harry Redknapp’s tactical nous, Arsenal would win the league.”
These comments have provoked the obvious reaction from Arsenal fans, who have been hysterical in their criticism of their former player, although this is hardly the first time he has come out with an outrageous comment, or more been overly biased against Wenger’s side.
The comments seem even more outrageous when you consider that Redknapp has recently been sacked from his role at Birmingham, while the Arsenal boss has shown year on year that he can achieve with our underspending club year on year.
Does Redknapp have any advantages over Wenger? Surely even the #WengerOut fans wouldn’t choose Harry over Arsene?
Pat J