Paul Merson slams Arsenal chief Edu and claims he'd 'do better job' while continuing in role as Soccer Saturday pundit
PAUL MERSON has blasted the transfer efforts of Arsenal’s technical director Edu despite the club forking out £144million on new talent.
The football pundit reckons he would be more effective than the Gunners’ transfer staff with the team enduring three shock losses in the Prem despite strengthening their squad.
Arsenal’s hat-trick of season-opening defeats has prompted concern amongst the Emirates outfit’s fanbase following some eye-watering sums spent on new stars.
The club, who sealed a late £20m swoop for Japan centre-back Takehiro Tomiyasu, spent around £80m on Martin Odegaard and Ben White.
Merson, who was appearing on Sky Sports News on transfer deadline day, believes he would have performed better in the market than Edu, 43, and Arsenal’s football director Richard Garlick.
The ex-Highbury forward, 53, told Sky: "Tell you what I’d do a better job," he said when asked about his former club.
"I’ll tell you now, I could do both (Soccer Saturday and be a Director of Football), if you’re successful you play on Sundays.
"When you spend that kind of money, these players have to perform.
"I think their season starts when they start when they come back from the international break, the fixtures coming up are winnable games, or they will have to win them there’s no doubt about that.
"Mikel Arteta will have til the October international, if they haven’t done anything by then he will be under pressure.
"Chelsea, Man City would I expect Arsenal to beat them? No. Is there a way to get beat by them? Yes, and the Man City game wasn’t good.”
Arsenal’s recent run has led to few minor heated exchanges at the Emirates with some fans’ frustration boiling over.
Incidents included one supporter who was filmed shouting at Edu’s wife Paula Gaspar, with her reportedly showing the fan her middle finger in response.
The club’s only win from their first four games this season has been a league cup victory over Championship side West Brom.
GRISLY PREDICTION
The Gunners, who are bottom of the table, face Norwich and Burnley after the international break and will be targeting wins against their rivals.
However, Merson, who won six trophies during his 11-years with the North London side, reckons Arsenal will struggle to reach the Prem’s top six this term.
The football pundit is predicting a mid-table finish for Arteta’s side.
Merson added: "If they come fifth or sixth I think they’re pulling up trees, 10th is about right.
“At the moment, Arsenal are middle of the table.
"They won’t finish above Leicester and they definitely won’t finish above Tottenham after they kept Harry Kane. I don’t think they would.
"Everton look organised with Rafa now, West Ham look decent, it’s going to be hard. It’s not a free ride anymore.
"These other teams are buying good players, Aston Villa have Danny Ings, why have Arsenal not got Danny Ings? Why did they not buy Danny Ings?
"I worry about the recruitment. Arsenal are never beating anybody, you never see them nick a player off Man United."
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