Arsenal’s former player and legend, Paul Merson, is advising the Gunners to find replacements for the attacking duo of Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah if they want to have a shot at winning the Premier League title.
Merson believes that both Jesus and Nketiah are not capable of taking Arsenal to the next level.
In the recent Premier League derby against Tottenham, both attackers were included in Arsenal’s starting lineup, but failed to make a significant impact. Nketiah, in particular, struggled to leave his mark, while Jesus missed a clear scoring opportunity in the 32nd minute after dispossessing James Maddison.
During an interview on Sky Sports, Merson expressed his opinion, stating, “From day one, I have always said that Eddie Nketiah is not the player who will lead Arsenal to win the Premier League. They need a reliable center forward.”
“I’m not singling out Nketiah for the draw against Tottenham, but with 32 games left in the season and considering their upcoming Champions League matches, I don’t believe he can elevate them to the next level,” Merson added.
He further commented, “I don’t even believe Gabriel Jesus can take them to that level.”
Merson admitted his concern when he saw the starting lineups for the match against Tottenham, stating, “I was so confident that Arsenal would win on Sunday, but when I saw the teams, I was really worried. Jesus playing on the wing, Nketiah up front, and Fabio Vieira – I don’t think he’s good enough. In January, they only have Ivan Toney as an available option, as there are not many quality center forwards around the world. They are becoming a rare breed.”