Former Arsenal star slams club’s title prospects after Man Utd draw

Arsenal legend Paul Merson has delivered a harsh assessment of Arsenal’s fading title hopes following a frustrating draw against Manchester United on Sunday.

The Gunners managed to secure a point at Old Trafford, with Declan Rice scoring a 74th-minute equaliser after Bruno Fernandes had put United ahead with a stunning free-kick. The result saw Arsenal fail to close the gap on Liverpool, who remain 15 points clear at the top of the Premier League with just nine matches left to play.

Arsenal legend Paul Merson expressed doubt about his former club’s ability to mount a serious title challenge, suggesting that their hopes are all but over. “Yes, it’s over,” he told Sky Sports. “Fifth place is closer to Arsenal than Arsenal is to first. At this stage, they need to focus on securing a top-four finish.”

The former footballer pointed out that, with Liverpool having only lost one game all season, the gap between the two clubs is insurmountable. “Liverpool would need to lose half of their remaining matches, but they’ve lost just one all year,” Merson claimed. “It’s simply not going to happen.”

Merson also expressed concerns over the London club’s attacking struggles. “They’re not scoring enough goals,” he said. “This is a real worry for them as the season draws to a close. Their lack of cutting edge is now becoming apparent, and that could prove costly in the final stages of the campaign.”