Paul Merson slams Arsenal attacking options as ex-star agrees with Michael Dawson on Premier League title verdict

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The Premier League title race has seemingly turned against Arsenal once again as the side fell to defeat at the Emirates Stadium to London rivals West Ham.

While the Gunners huffed and puffed in front of goal, they never truly looked like scoring in a testing encounter.

Instead, the visitors caused problems on the counterattack as an Aaron Wan Bissaka cross picked out Jarrod Bowen to give West Ham the victory.

Arsenal will be forced to lick their wounds as their chances of winning the Premier League title have slimmed even further.

With just 12 games of the campaign left, former star Paul Merson thinks that the race is all but over for Mikel Arteta.

• READ MORE: Former Arsenal transfer flop could now be set to haunt the Gunners in Champions League clash

Paul Merson and Michael Dawson agree on Premier League title race

With the Premier League title race now even further in Liverpool’s favour, Arsenal have a lot of work to do to turn it all around.

For Merson, their race is run and the forward options available play a huge part in it, albeit it may not be their fault due to injuries in the squad.

He said on Sky Sports: “One million per cent [Arsenal can’t win the league].

“There’s no way Arsenal can catch Liverpool. They’ve got no forward. They’ve got a young 17-year-old who is going to have a bright future, an amazing player. He struggled, he’s going to be like that [up and down gesture]…

“Trossard is a bit-part player in my opinion, I think if everyone is fit he’s one of them you want to come on with 30 minutes to go if you need him I think he’s that kind of player but he needs to play every game now.

“Then they’ve got no centre-forward. There’s absolutely no chance, even if Liverpool got beat 7-0 [to Man City] tomorrow they still can’t win the league.”

It was something former Tottenham defender Michael Dawson went on to agree with, adding: “I thought it was over… They’ve got no chance of winning, they’ve lost their four main attacking players and then you’re left with three, what do you do?

“It’s like we talk about Manchester City defensively, you can’t expect to go away to Real Madrid and win a football match if you can’t defend.

“The other end of the spectrum is Arsenal like Merse is saying. I’m with him, if you can’t score goals or create chances, you’ve got no chance.”

While stranger things have happened, it would take a lot for Arsenal to keep up the type of form needed to win the league title at the same time as Liverpool dropping plenty of points.

• READ MORE: Riccardo Calafiori and Declan Rice humiliated in Arsenal defeat as Mikel Arteta provides update on Ethan Nwaneri injury scare

Arsenal fixtures compared to Liverpool in Premier League title race

With just 12 Premier League fixtures left for both Arsenal and Liverpool, there is a maximum of 36 points up for grabs.

For the Gunners, some tough games await as clashes with Nottingham Forest, Manchester United and Chelsea provide challenges.

Fulham and Everton are more than capable of setting up strict defensive lines, creating a challenging opposition to break down.

Liverpool have some big games coming too as Manchester City and Newcastle await, along with Everton in another Merseyside derby.

Fulham may provide a challenge while basement boys Southampton could be a relative stroll in the park based on the season so far.

Arsenal need a few favours and then some in the coming weeks on top of an immediate bounce back in form, creating a lot that needs to go their way.