Paul Merson thinks Arsenal could be a mid-table side again next season unless they “get their consistency right”.
The Gunners have struggled to put a run of wins together this season with their recent record of two losses, two draws and three wins in their last seven Premier League games summing up their inconsistency.
Arsenal found themselves 3-0 down early on against fifth-placed West Ham at the weekend but managed to improve to rescue a 3-3 draw at the London Stadium.
FEATURE: Arsenal and Liverpool top Premier League run-in table
The point saw them move up to ninth in the Premier League table and that is where Merson sees them staying unless they can improve their consistency.
Merson told Sky Sports: “It was exactly how Arsenal are in a nutshell, in that 90 minutes of football [against West Ham]. They’ve just been so inconsistent all season. Last week, they were great against Tottenham, they looked really good and looked like a team.
“Then they go out and put in a 45-minute performance like that and then come back and get a result. It summed up everything about their season in a nutshell in the last week. If you want to be successful, you need consistency and if you don’t have it, you’ve got no chance.
“I thought they made mistakes and the first 45 minutes was a bit lackadaisical, if I’m being honest. West Ham came and pressed them, they tried to win the ball high up and Arsenal just didn’t get it right. He went with [Pierre-Emerick] Aubameyang on the right instead of the left. For me, Aubameyang is best out on the left and he changed that back after 20 minutes.
“For the players, as soon as the shackles are off and they have nothing to lose, they can play. But at the same time, I think West Ham helped with that because they sat back so deep, that they invited Arsenal onto them. And if you give them that much time and defend on the edge of your box, they will open you up by the end of the game.
“They’ve got the players, they’ve just got to find consistency, but they’ve got to be fighting for the top four. Arsenal is a big club and middle of the table isn’t good enough. Until they can get their consistency right, they will be middle of the table again next season.”
On Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Merson added: “It was weird against West Ham because Arteta brings him off, but they’re losing the game and need a goal so they bring off their top scorer and their talisman. He’ll be one of those ‘watch this space’ over the next three or four months.
It’s hard at the moment because you haven’t got a choice really, they gave him a big contract so Aubameyang holds all the cards, he’s not getting those wages anywhere else in the world. For me, it’ll be up to Aubameyang what he wants to do, not what Arsenal want to do.”
The post Merson explains why Arsenal could be mid-table again next season appeared first on Football365.