Paul Merson Declares Premier League Title Race Over Following Arsenal's Draw Against Manchester United

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Paul Merson, a former Arsenal player, thinks Liverpool have already secured the Premier League title after Arsenal's recent draw with Manchester United. He believes Arsenal face bigger challenges than the title race, especially as the fight for Champions League spots intensifies. Merson noted that Arsenal's chances of winning the league are now extremely slim according to Opta's simulations.

Arsenal's recent performance against Manchester United saw them equalise through Declan Rice after Bruno Fernandes scored from a free-kick. However, the draw did not benefit Arsenal in their pursuit of the title. Merson highlighted that Arsenal are closer to fifth place than they are to first, suggesting they should focus on securing a top-four finish instead.

Merson criticised Arsenal's attacking options, pointing out that Mikel Arteta did not sign a replacement striker for Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz during the January transfer window. With Bukayo Saka also unavailable, Arsenal relied on Mikel Merino, Ethan Nwaneri, and Leandro Trossard upfront against Manchester United. Merson argued these players wouldn't even start for Fulham.

The former midfielder suggested that Arsenal should have pursued Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins more aggressively after their initial £60 million bid was rejected. He compared this situation to Arsene Wenger's era when defensive reinforcements were needed but not acquired.

Arsenal have struggled against teams lower in the table this season, failing to win three matches against sides starting the day in 15th or lower. Last season, they won all 12 games against such opponents. Despite scoring seven goals against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League, Merson believes this result only masked deeper issues within the team.

Mikel Merino managed two goals against Leicester City recently, but Merson doubts his ability to lead Arsenal to league success without a strong centre forward. He emphasised that no team can win major titles without a reliable striker and expressed concern over Arsenal's current form and position in the league standings.

Manchester City could potentially overtake Arsenal due to their favourable upcoming fixtures. This adds pressure on Arsenal to improve their goal-scoring capabilities and secure crucial points as the season progresses.

Merson remains sceptical about Arsenal's prospects this season due to their lack of attacking depth and reliance on makeshift solutions upfront. He believes addressing these issues is crucial for improving their league position and securing Champions League qualification amidst growing competition.