Paul Merson Reveals the ‘Problem’ and Identifies the Player Who Could Easily Walk into Manchester City’s Starting XI
Paul Merson believes that Gabriel Jesus’ return to fitness could pose a problem for Mikel Arteta, and he thinks that Arsenal currently have a very strong player. Jesus, who was signed for £45m from Manchester City, made an impressive start to the season, scoring five Premier League goals by October 1 and contributing to Arsenal’s challenge for the title.
However, he suffered a knee injury at the World Cup and had not played for Arsenal until the recent match against Fulham. Despite Jesus’ absence, Arsenal have managed to maintain their position at the top of the standings, thanks to a three-match winless run and five consecutive Premier League victories.
According to Paul Merson, the return of Gabriel Jesus to the Arsenal squad could create a dilemma for Mikel Arteta in terms of team selection. Jesus did not sign with Arsenal to be a backup player, as he was at Manchester City, and he will likely want to play. Although his return is like having a new signing, it could become problematic for Arsenal in the future.
During the January transfer window, Arsenal signed Leandro Trossard from Brighton. The Belgian international had been a standout player for Brighton since joining them in June 2019, but he made it clear that he wanted to leave, and Arsenal took advantage of the situation. Trossard has seamlessly fit into Arsenal’s attacking lineup and has already scored a goal for the team. Paul Merson believes that Arteta was able to secure a great deal by signing Trossard and is confident that the winger would excel in any Premier League team.
“Leandro Trossard could play for Man City,” he added. “It’s an unbelievable signing for £27m.
“When his agent said to him he was going to Arsenal for that fee he must have thought, ‘Is that all I’m worth?”
“The lad could go in the Man City team on Tuesday and you wouldn’t know any different, he’s that good.
“But Arsenal play like Man City, if you put them in a light blue kit you would think they are. You don’t get bigger compliments than that.”
Arsenal’s next objective is to advance in the Europa League, where they will face Sporting at home on Thursday. The tie is currently evenly poised at 2-2 after the first leg. Following this, Arsenal will shift their focus back to domestic competitions, as they are scheduled to play a London derby against Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon.
