Paul Merson: Arsenal's Dominance Recalls Jose Mourinho's Chelsea Era

Paul Merson, former Arsenal forward and current Sky Sports pundit, has drawn parallels between Mikel Arteta's Arsenal and Jose Mourinho's dominant Chelsea team during his first spell at Stamford Bridge. With Arsenal currently leading the Premier League by four points, Merson believes the Gunners are on track to win the title.

In his analysis, Merson praised Arsenal's defensive prowess, stating that they are an "efficient machine" with top-class players. He noted that once Arsenal take the lead, their opponents often struggle to mount a comeback, much like the Chelsea teams under Mourinho. "As soon as that Chelsea team got in front, it was game over," Merson recalled. "It's the same with Arsenal now. Get a goal, and it's back to the halfway line, and you can see in the opposition's faces, they know it's over."

Merson highlighted Arsenal's impressive defensive statistics, boasting the best defensive record in Europe. He believes that their ability to shut out opponents and score crucial goals will be key to their success. "They have the best defensive record in the whole of Europe, so you don't have to score multiple goals to win football matches. One goal will do for Arsenal, and what a feeling that must be for the forwards."

The pundit also touched on other Premier League topics, including Manchester United's resurgence under Ruben Amorim. Merson noted that the Red Devils have turned a corner, with their big players performing and confidence returning. "The Man Utd players were never bad players, they just lacked confidence, but now they are starting to play, and that was a good win against Brighton."

In contrast, Merson expressed concerns about Liverpool's struggles, particularly after Arne Slot's comments about handling long balls and low blocks. He questioned the effectiveness of their new signing, Florian Wirtz, in breaking down defensive teams. "They just bought Florian Wirtz for over £100m to be able to get past 10 players behind the ball. He's a great player, but he's struggling."

Merson also praised Bournemouth and Sunderland for their unexpected presence in the top four, warning that established Premier League teams should be concerned about their own top-flight future. With Arsenal's current form, Merson is adamant that they are strong contenders to win the league. "I'd be flabbergasted if Arsenal didn't win the league. People will say there are 30 games left, but we're only a once-in-a-season strike from Dominik Szoboszlai away from asking the question: 'Who beats Arsenal this season?'"