Arsenal face Tottenham next weekend in the first North London Derby of the season, and it could already prove to be a must-win game for the Gunners.
Mikel Arteta’s side find themselves two points off Manchester City already in the Premier League standings, with Arsenal traveling to the Etihad Stadium just one week after their trip to Tottenham.
With two of the hardest away games of the season coming up for Arsenal so early on in the season, there’s a real sense that the north London side could see their title challenge collapse before it’s even started, with Declan Rice also not available for the clash against Tottenham.
And Paul Merson has now shared his honest verdict on Arsenal’s upcoming North London Derby.
Arsenal tipped to struggle against Tottenham next week
Speaking to Sky Sports News, the former Arsenal attacker predicted Arteta’s side to be in for a tough game against Tottenham with Rice missing and the Gunners needing to win if they’re to keep up with City.
With Martin Odegaard also rumoured to be injured, Arsenal could be in for a long game against Tottenham in a fixture that could already hand City the Premier League title if things go south for the Gunners, and Merson isn’t too confident.
Merson said when asked about next week’s North London Derby: “I was very bullish last time, I ain’t sure this time. Declan Rice is a big miss, it’s a big two games for Arsenal. If they don’t get four points out of their next two games, they will be right up against it, so it’s a big football match.
“I don’t think the fixtures have been kind for Arsenal at the start of the season, I know they sort of settle their way in the end, but you don’t want to be playing catch-up with Man City. If they don’t win this game and then they get beat by Man City, they could be seven, eight, nine points behind City, and that would be miles too many.”
Arsenal have to win at all costs against Tottenham
Three games into the Premier League season might be too soon to call off a title bid, but if City have shown the world anything in recent years, it’s that you need to be perfect to beat them for the championship.
And Arsenal dropping more points against Tottenham could be disastrous for the Gunners in their bid to win a first Premier League title in over 20 years, with City having a winnable game against Brentford.
With the Gunners then traveling to the Etihad Stadium, the next two games could already define Arsenal’s entire Premier League challenge, and the north London side need to prove that they are once again the real deal this season