Paul Merson told Sky Sports that both Arsenal and Tottenham won’t finish in the top-four this season.
The outspoken TV pundit made it clear that Arsenal’s rebuild job will take a ‘long, long’ time to fix, whilst he feels the gap is ‘too big’ for Spurs to secure Champions League football.
Even the most ardent of Arsenal fans will tell you they have no chance of finishing in the top-four whilst sitting in the bottom half, it’s securing Europa League football that they have to worry about.
And whilst Spurs are nine points behind fourth-placed West Ham with a game in hand, Merson sees both Manchester clubs, Leicester City and Liverpool flying the flag on the biggest stage of them all next season.
On Tottenham’s top-four chances: “If Tottenham win their game in hand, they are back in the mix in terms of points,” Merson. “But the problem is winning that game in hand after a run after a run of five defeats in their last six league games.
“But you look at their fixtures coming up and you think they could go on a role – At the moment, I think the gap is too big for Spurs, but we’ve seen other teams do it. A run of wins can change things in terms of confidence and the table, and that’s what Spurs need to hold onto.
On Arsenal’s top-four chances: “I can’t see Arsenal doing anything between now and the end of the season to get into the top four,” said Merson.
“I played at Arsenal for a good number of years a long time ago and it is just a phenomenal football club. It’s a Rolls Royce of a football club but when you look where they are now, it’s just hard to watch.
“It’s a real massive rebuild job at the Emirates Stadium and I think it’s going to take a long, long time.”
Whilst the target for both Spurs and Arsenal at the start of the campaign was top-four, they have to get that out of their minds now.
The simple reason being, they can miss out on European football altogether with the way they are going.
Both are sitting outside of the top-seven, and most importantly, have played a game extra(s) than some of those above them.
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