‘It’s hard’: Paul Merson feels sorry for £8.5m Arsenal player

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Paul Merson has told Sky Sports that he feels bad for Arsenal left-back Nuno Tavares following the match against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

The former Arsenal star has said that it must be hard for Tavares to play well for Arsenal when he does not get a run of games.

The 22-year-old left-back, who cost Arsenal £8.5 million in transfer fees (The London Evening Standard), started against Palace in the Premier League on Monday evening.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta decided to take off the 22-year-old Portuguese left-back at half time.

The Gunners lost the London derby 3-0.

Tavares started in place of the injured Kieran Tierney, and Sky Sports pundit Merson believes that it must be hard for the youngster to make an impact after not playing regularly.

Tierney is now set to miss the rest of the season.

Paul Merson on Arsenal duo Kieran Tierney and Nuno Tavares

Merson told Sky Sports: “Kieran Tierney is going to be a big miss for Arsenal, after his knee injury before the Palace game.

“He’s one of the players you can’t afford to take out of this Arsenal team. He’s solid, he’s an 8/10 every week, he sets an example.

“He’s a winner – you know what you’re going to get with him, and he was a big miss on Monday night.

“Nuno Tavares had one of them games at left-back, but it’s hard when you’re out of the team for so long. You’re not really playing football – you’re just training. Even playing in the U23s, it’s not the Premier League.

“To come in and say: ‘Right, play in this game’ – you feel for these players. No matter how much you train, it’s not the same as playing.”

Keeping faith

In our opinion, Arsenal fans should stay patient and keep faith in Tavares.

This is not the first time that the 22-year-old left-back has had a bad game.

And it won’t be the last.

Tavares is not as good as Tierney… yet.

However, we have to give young players time and room to improve.

Let us not forget that Tavares is only 22.

He will have bad games, like all young players do.

What is important is that Tavares learns from his mistakes and continues to develop his game.

The Arsenal no. 20 has made seven starts and eight substitute appearances in the Premier League so far this season, providing one assist in the process.