Paul Merson told Sky Sports (14/08/10 at 12:10 pm) that Arsenal trio Bukayo Saka, Kieran Tierney and Emile Smith Rowe could play for ‘a lot of teams’.
On a night to forget for Arsenal on Friday, the above players were the positives as the Gunners were beaten by newly-promoted Brentford.
Both Smith Rowe and Tierney started the game for that opening game of the new Premier League season, with Saka coming off the bench.
But they couldn’t do enough to stop Arsenal from beginning life without European football in a car-crash fashion.
Merson claimed that Arsenal are in such a bad situation that Brentford boss Thomas Frank wouldn’t even take their players.
“Smith Rowe done well, he’s a good player,” said Merson. “Tierney did well and when Saka came on.
“They are their three players. I am looking at all the other players and I am thinking ‘I am not sure Brentford would take you. I am not sure you would get into the Brentford team’.
“If you went to Thomas Frank and say ‘who do you want to take (from Arsenal) for Crystal Palace away?’. Who do you take?
“He will say ‘it’s alright, I will settle with my team’. And that’s where it’s gone. He will take them three all day long. They can play for a lot of teams.”
Many Arsenal fans were expecting their board to refresh this team from top to bottom this summer.
And whilst Ben White has joined the club for a big-money fee, supporters were expecting a lot more and it hasn’t met their expectations.
Surprise, surprise!
From a new goalkeeper being needed, right-back, striker, creative midfielder, possibly another number six and centre-back.
Judging by what Arsenal have produced under Arteta then the signs suggest that another season of mid-table mediocrity is awaiting them.
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