Iconic former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson has taken aim at one player due to his recent actions.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is in a difficult position when it comes to selecting a starting XI to take on Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
The Gunners have been ravaged by injuries ahead of this Premier League clash. Club captain Martin Odegaard is sidelined, along with Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney.
On top of that, news recently arrived that Riccardo Calafiori will not be fit to face the Reds, having picked up a knock against Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday evening.
There are also fitness doubts about Jurrien Timber and Bukayo Saka. Beyond these injury woes, Arteta also has William Saliba’s suspension to contend with.
The French centre-back will serve his one-match Premier League ban this weekend, having been sent off against Bournemouth last time out in the competition.
Arsenal considered appealing against Saliba’s dismissal, and even built a case in their player’s defence. However, the Gunners ultimately opted not to press ahead with the appeal.
Arsenal legend Paul Merson takes swipe at William Saliba
Paul Merson is far from impressed with Saliba for getting himself suspended for this crucial fixture.
Writing for Sky Sports, he said: “Only time will tell if these red card offences will cost Arsenal the title… in the heat of the moment you have to make cool decisions and on Saturday William Saliba does not have to do that.
“You have to be calm and collected at a big club like Arsenal, so I’m disappointed with what Saliba did there.”
Mikel Arteta must address Arsenal discipline problem
In referring to these “offences,” Merson has highlighted that this was not an isolated incident, although it was Saliba’s first red card in his career.
The Gunners, though, have now had three players sent off in Premier League games already this season, with Leandro Trossard and Declan Rice having been given their marching orders against Manchester City and Brighton, respectively, earlier in the campaign.
Arsenal’s poor discipline record under Arteta has returned with a vengeance this season, after it had looked like the club had cleaned up its act in the last couple of campaigns.
Merson is right to suggest that this poor discipline could destroy the North London club’s title chances. This Arsenal squad has the talent and quality required to become champions, but they will fall short if they have players being routinely suspended throughout the season.
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