Paul Merson makes worrying Premier League top four prediction for Arsenal | Football

Paul Merson fears Arsenal’s place in the top four is far from rock solid after watching Mikel Arteta’s side labour to a 1-1 draw against Manchester United.

The Gunners’ lack of attacking options was laid bare again at Old Trafford as they failed to turn the majority of possession into chances against a confidence-starved United side.

Bruno Fernandes made Arsenal pay for their lethargy on the stroke of half-time with a stunning free-kick and it wasn’t until Declan Rice’s 74th minute equaliser that Arsenal drew level.

Even then, the visitors were indebted to their goalkeeper David Raya for making a crucial late save to deny United a winner.

Arsenal are now a distant 15 points behind champions-elect Liverpool having played one game fewer.

Having won just one of their last four matches, however, the race for Champions League qualification is now hotting up and Merson fears Manchester City will not have given up hope of overhauling a team they lost 5-1 against last month.

‘I thought it was covering over the cracks in midweek,’ said Merson, referring to the 7-1 Champions League win over PSV in midweek.

‘I saw them at Leicester where they scored two in the last 10 minutes and they let in goals everywhere. Never looked like scoring against WEst Ham and never really looked like scoring against Forest.

‘I just thought you’re playing in the top league in the world and you’ve got no centre forward.

‘You ask Merino to play there and he come on and got two against Leicester but that was the last 10 minutes.

‘But you’re not going to win the league with him playing up front and he looks lost up front, he doesn’t give you a presence, doesn’t give you anything up front. It’s so important to have a centre forward, no team ever wins anything without a good one.

‘Arsenal are suffering now and I think it’s a worry now until the end of the season.

‘Look at the games, they’ve got to score goals and there’s no goals in them.

‘It’s started to get tight there and Man City have got some nice fixtures there and it wouldn’t surprise me if Man City who are fifth at the moment catch Arsenal.’

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