‘Everyone was going mad’: Paul Merson refuses to change his mind about Arsenal & Tottenham

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Paul Merson is still backing Arsenal to secure Champions League football by claiming that Tottenham still have a ‘Tottenham in them’, as he told Sky Sports.

The outspoken TV pundit added ‘everyone was going mad’ about Tottenham’s 4-0 win at Aston Villa over the weekend, but he thinks that result ‘covered the cracks’.

Whilst Spurs are flying high, scoring goals for fun and currently sitting fourth in the Premier League table.

It has gone all wrong at the wrong time for their north London rivals, who will feel Champions League football is now slipping away from them.

But a certain ex-Gooner, in Merson, is still backing them and refusing to change his mind from the start of the season when he felt Mikel Arteta could guide the club to fourth.

“I still feel Arsenal are in it because Tottenham have still got a Tottenham in them,” said Merson. “I don’t mean that in a horrible way, but they still have got a Tottenham in them.

“Everyone was going mad about them but they could’ve been blown away in the first half against Aston Villa. Villa should’ve been out of sight and they only have to have one of those days in the next seven weeks. 

“The 4-0 win over Villa covered over the cracks. They did some great stuff, don’t get me wrong, but in the first half, Hugo Lloris had to make save after save. So I’m still not convinced by Tottenham.

“The top four is still very much on for Arsenal.”

That all-important north London derby next month is going to be one for the ages and a game that could put the final nail in the coffin for this race to secure Champions League football.

Both Spurs and Arsenal will feel they are the ones scrapping it out for that spot, but they still have to be wary of both West Ham and Manchester United behind them.

They are all due to play one another during these coming weeks, and if things go right for any of those two, then this top-four race could turn on its head.

But, as things stand, if neither Spurs nor Arsenal secure a Champions League finish, then it would be a capitulation of all capitulations in north London.