Paul Merson has told Sky Sports that Antonio Conte’s Tottenham Hotspur and not Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are now the favourites for the Premier League top four this season.
The Sky Sports pundit gave the verdict after Arsenal lost to Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Monday evening.
The former Arsenal star, though, has added that if star striker Harry Kane does not play well, then Spurs will not finish fourth.
Paul Merson on Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur
Merson told Sky Sports: “Now all of a sudden, Arsenal don’t really have a game in hand – because Tottenham have got them at home anyway. It doesn’t matter what they do with their game in hand, because Tottenham will have to beat them and can overtake them.
“You watch Tottenham completely and utterly dismantling Newcastle on Sunday. Newcastle aren’t the worst team in the world. I watched them at Chelsea a few weeks ago, and bar genius from Kai Havertz and Jorginho, the Blues didn’t really look like scoring that day – then Tottenham go and put five past them.
“Spurs are the favourites for top four now. When Harry Kane’s playing like he is, I don’t think too many teams are going to beat them. I saw him go to the Etihad and rip Manchester City apart. I saw him rip West Ham apart, I saw him rip Newcastle apart.
“But you take Kane out of the team, top four ain’t happening for Spurs. It’s as simple as that. When he doesn’t turn up at Burnley away, they get beaten. Tottenham are a one-man team and that’s not being disrespectful.”
Fascinating
In our opinion, Arsenal are the favourites for the fourth spot in the Premier League table, not Tottenham.
Yes, the Gunners lost to Palace, but Mikel Arteta’s side are level on points with Spurs and have a game in hand.
Arsenal’s performance against Palace in the London derby left much to be desired, and left-back Kieran Tierney is now out for the rest of the season.
Thomas Partey also picked up an injury.
However, it is still in Arsenal’s hands, even though they still have to play against Tottenham in the North London derby.
After all, the Gunners have a game in hand, and if they win all of their matches, then they will finish above Spurs.
Fact.
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