After nine games, Arsenal sit third in the Premier League table, five points off leaders Manchester City with every game deemed ‘must win’ if they are to beat their title rivals.
Some have accused the Gunners of being a bit too defensive at times this season, most notably in the 2-2 draws with City and Liverpool where they conceded late equalisers after taking the lead in the first-half.
The same occurred in their 2-0 defeat at Bournemouth after William Saliba was sent off, and Merson has warned Arteta that if he continues this tactic it won’t end well.
‘Arsenal are sitting back too much in games now. I know they have key players missing out due to injuries, but they should’ve attacked more against Liverpool last weekend,’ the Gunners legend told Sportskeeda.
‘Even if a draw is still a fair result for them, Arsenal weren’t as free-flowing as they were before and that’s a problem. The old Arsenal were entertaining, now they’re just sitting back and counter-attacking.
‘If you do that every week in this league, you will get found out soon. I hope this change in strategy is only due to the players they are missing at the moment.
‘After the trip to Newcastle, they face Chelsea away from home. These two games are crucial for the Gunners, they must find a way to win both!’
Arsenal travel to St. James’ Park on Saturday with several key defenders out injured but it is the continued absence of captain Martin Odegaard that is starving them of creativity and affecting their attack.
Nevertheless, Merson is still backing his former side to claim all three points with a 2-1 win against the Magpies, adding: ‘This is a huge game for Arsenal. It’s one where you look at and think, “Arsenal must win this one”.
‘Liverpool face Brighton this weekend and they already beat them in the Carabao Cup in midweek, so we’re expecting the same result again. You also expect Manchester City to beat Bournemouth so Arsenal cannot afford to slip up.
‘Newcastle beat Chelsea during the cup game in midweek, but I doubt they can back it up with another win on Saturday. Alexander Isak seems to have returned to form and Anthony Gordon is always a threat with his pace.
‘But I feel they are too open at the back and good teams can always pick them apart. When they have all their players in good form, Newcastle are a proper team but that isn’t the case at the moment. Arsenal win for me in this one!’
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