Paul Merson reckons Gunners will go from bad to worse unless Wenger changes

Posted Tuesday, November 11, 2014 by Dailystar.co.uk

PAUL MERSON believes Arsenal will go from bad to worse until Arsene Wenger sheds his stubborn streak.

Paul Merson reckons Gunners will go from bad to worse unless Wenger changes
DOWN: Arsenal let their lead slip against Swansea to end up losing 2-1

Swansea's comeback win over the Gunners on Sunday came just a few days after the former Arsenal star branded Wenger 'tactically clueless' for throwing away a three goal lead in the Champions League.

Starsport columnist Merson's comments last week brought a furious response from Wenger, ahead of their latest setback.

But Merson, 46, thinks Arsenal fans should be pointing the finger at the club for letting Wenger get his own way for far too long

He told Starsport: "Arsenal's season is going from bad to worse but is it the end of the road for Arsene Wenger?

"I doubt it. Not while the board are showing so little ambition. Why sack someone who makes you money every year and hardly ever spends it?

"I think they are taking liberties with the fans. Arsenal only realistically have the FA Cup to play for this season.

"That's not good enough when you're paying thousands for a season ticket.

"They're not winning the league. Even Wenger says they can't catch Chelsea any more. And let's be honest, they're not winning the Champions League either are they?

"They're already out of the Capital One Cup, so that only really leaves them with one trophy to play for this season.

"Arsenal finally ended their drought by winning the FA Cup last season, and that might have bought Wenger some time.

"But it seems like a long time ago now."

Wenger publicly surrendered the title to Chelsea after the Gunners' 2-1 loss at the weekend.

"Arsenal's season is usually over by February when they have a mad week and go out of everything," said Merson. "But it's in danger of being over a lot quicker than that this year.

"To say you're out of the title race in November like Wenger just has is embarrassing.

"It's hard to watch Arsenal right now. I played there for years. I won things with the club. I still look for their results. But it hurts to see them like this."

Merson, who won five major trophies with the club as a player before quitting for Middlesbrough in 1997, thinks Wenger is too stubborn to see he has got it wrong.

The former England star said: "It's the same old story every season. The same mistakes over and over again. I called Wenger clueless after Arsenal blew a three-goal lead against Anderlecht.

"I stick by what I said, even though it upset him.

"But then to see Arsenal make exactly the same mistake in their very next game is incredible.

"I watched the Swansea game and they were leading 1-0 and still had six players in front of the ball. They threw the game away - again.

"He hasn't learned has he? This has been going on for years but Wenger is too stubborn to do anything about it.

"How long have we all been saying he needs a decent holding midfield player and another defender?

"It's got to the point where it feels like he is refusing to accept it because to buy a midfielder now would prove us all right.

"I genuinely think Arsenal were two players away from being real title contenders this summer but they bought no-one to replace Thomas Vermaelen and they failed to get Sami Khedira.

"It's not like he can just go and do it now either. How many world class players are ever available in January? Not many.