- Merson shared his thoughts regarding the potential sacking of Mikel Arteta
- The Gunners secured Champions League football for a third consecutive season
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Paul Merson has made a bold prediction regarding the potential sacking of Mikel Arteta after Arsenal’s 1-0 victory over Newcastle.
The Gunners secured Champions League football for a third consecutive season after a narrow victory over the Magpies courtesy of Declan Rice’s 20-yard strike.
But former Arsenal midfielder Merson, who was appearing as a pundit on Sky Sports for the encounter, gave his verdict on the Spaniard’s future.
He said: ‘[Arsenal] need a centre-forward and they need back up in big positions. At the moment when they make changes it weakens the team. At Arsenal the front three are not real natural goalscorers.
‘There’s a saying in life if you keep doing the same things you get the same results it’s insanity. They keep on doing it again next year it’s madness.
‘The problem is, I’m trying to back them up but you’ve got to win something. It’s not easy. Every time it gets to latter stages they go. They keep on falling short. It becomes normal. It becomes natural it’s hard.
Paul Merson has made a bold prediction regarding the potential sacking of Mikel Arteta
The Gunners secured Champions League football for a third consecutive season under the Spaniard’s management
‘I think Arteta has got until Christmas. They will have to be in the top two at Christmas to keep on going.’
While Arsenal have now secured Champions League football for a third consecutive season, their only major trophy under Arteta is the 2020 FA Cup.
However, the north London side have still been impressive at points this season, knocking out Real Madrid en route to the Champions League semi-finals where they ultimately eliminated by PSG.
Domestically, they struggled to maintain momentum and eventually fell adrift of Liverpool in the title race.
Merson’s fellow pundit and former Liverpool and Tottenham midfielder Jamie Redknapp added: ‘I think people like Saka next year if they don’t win anything will think ”wait a minute, I need to start winning things.”’
‘I’m expecting them to be in the top two next season but they will have to get over the line, come what may.
‘The fans will start getting fed up, especially if Spurs go and win Wednesday night [in the Europa League final against Manchester United].’
