Paul Merson told Soccer Saturday on Sky Sports that he ‘cannot believe’ Arsenal quartet Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette, Bukayo Saka and Thomas Partey didn’t start their FA Cup defeat to Southampton.
The FA Cup holders were knocked out at the fourth-round stage, with Aubameyang missing out altogether for Arsenal and the other trio coming off the bench.
There’s no doubt that Arsenal performed much better after the substitutions were made, but it was too late.
Merson was asked to share his reaction to the likes of Aubameyang, Lacazette, Saka and Partey not starting yesterday’s defeat.
“100%, I cannot understand what he’s doing,” said Merson. “They’re not going to win the league. They’re not going to get into the top four unless they went on one of the best runs in the history of the Premier League.
“So, for me, this is the one. This is the one that made Arteta last time out. I honestly cannot believe it.
“This is a more important game than midweek league game, in my opinion. They aren’t getting relegated and they are not getting into the top-four. For me, bad decisions.”
It could be argued that the FA Cup saved Arteta’s job because if he hadn’t won that competition last season then he probably would have been sent his marching orders during this campaign.
Pressure will mount on Arteta again because they are still trying to climb the Premier League table and their only chance for some silverware this season is in the Europa League.
Another prominent absentee for Saturday’s FA Cup defeat was the in-form Emile Smith-Rowe, who has made Arsenal tick in the middle of the park in recent weeks.
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