Arsenal legend predicts a bad day for Gunners against Liverpool

Arsenal club legend Paul Merson has predicted his former side will lose to Liverpool over the weekend in a Premier League clash.

The Gunners host Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday and Merson believes Arsenal defense isn’t good enough to stop the Reds’ attack. Unai Emery’s men are unbeaten in 13 matches in all competitions, having won 11 before dropping points in a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace.

The club bounced back on Wednesday, beating Blackpool 2-1 to advance to the quarterfinals of EFL Cup. Despite being outstanding, Merson says Jurgen Klopp’s attack of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino will provide too much of a test to Arsenal’s backline.

“I can’t see anything but a Liverpool win. I think this is the day Arsenal show some big cracks. I just think the defence is terrible, all over the place, and no different to what it was before,” Merson told Sky Sports.

“If Hector Bellerin is injured, you’re talking about Granit Xhaka at left-back, a central midfield player, and Stephan Lichtsteiner at right-back, who has been a good player but is nearly 35 now. How many 35-year-old’s are there in the Premier League?’ We saw Leicester rip Arsenal to shreds for 30 minutes; they scored, Harry Maguire missed a sitter, they had a stonewall penalty turned down.”

“Leicester’s front three aren’t even in the same class as Liverpool’s. I just cannot see how Arsenal will live with them. People will say: ‘Oh Arsenal will score goals…’ but Liverpool’s defence has been superb. I watched Arsenal win 11 games on the trot, and they could have easily lost four of them, let alone drawn them.”

Liverpool is second on the league standing with equal points with leaders Manchester City who are superior in goal difference while Arsenal is fourth, four points behind the Reds.

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