Merson shares doubts over Arsenal star that Arteta ‘trusts’ and claims squad is already ‘bare’

Paul Merson thinks Arsenal will be under more pressure to perform this season and has also shared his doubts over one star in particular.

Arsenal got off to a winning start in the Premier League with all three points against Nottingham Forest.

The Gunners bossed things in the first half, but some nerves did start to creep in towards the end as Forest grabbed a goal back.

Merson thinks that Arsenal will need to get used to this pressure as he believes Mikel Arteta’s side would have swept Forest aside last year.

“The pressure is on Arsenal,” Merson told Sky Sports. “We’re all watching them now. No one expected them to finish in the top four last season. They were unlucky in the end not to win the league.

“They went 2-0 up against Nottingham Forest on Saturday and you’re expecting them to kick on. They sat back and got nervy.

“Then Forest score and suddenly you’re thinking they can get another one for 2-2. Forest should have been one up when Brennan Johnson missed a sitter.

“That’s just pressure. If it was last season, when they weren’t expected to do anything, they probably win by five or six. It’s a good result for Arsenal but this is what they face now.”

Arsenal were the deserved winners in the end, but Arteta will have seen a few areas to tighten up after a nervy finish.

Losing Gabriel Jesus for the start of the season was a setback and Jurrien Timber’s injury has put a further dampener on things.

Merson thinks that squad depth could be an issue for Arteta’s side this season and he still has some doubts over Eddie Nketiah being the main man up top.

“Eddie Nketiah never lets Arsenal down which is a big thing. The manager trusts him. I don’t see him firing Arsenal to the title though. He’s one you bring in for three or four games and then take him out again.

“But the squad looks a little bit bare already. Jurrien Timber getting injured doesn’t help and Gabriel was on the bench.

“I didn’t understand Thomas Partey playing at right-back instead of Takehiro Tomiyasu. Sometimes the manager complicates it and tries to be a little bit like Pep Guardiola.

“I expect Arsenal to challenge Man City for the league but if they don’t perform they won’t even be in the top four. That’s how hard this league is. There are no gimmies.”

Next up for Arsenal is a trip to Crystal Palace where Arteta will be targeting another three points to continue building momentum.

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