Paul Merson has advised Mikel Arteta to leave Jorginho out of Arsenal’s starting lineup when they take on Manchester City in a crucial Premier League clash this Sunday.
Arsenal, currently in hot pursuit of league leaders Liverpool, will look to keep their title hopes alive as they host the defending champions at the Emirates. With 13 wins in 23 matches, the Gunners have emerged as Liverpool’s closest challengers in the title race.
Manchester City, on the other hand, have dropped to fourth place and appear to be more focused on securing a top-four finish rather than contending for the championship. While their results have improved, Merson remains unconvinced that they are back to their dominant best.
The former Arsenal star believes the Gunners have an edge over City but insists Jorginho, who played in Arsenal’s Champions League victory over Girona, should be benched for this high-stakes encounter.
“If Liverpool slip up against Bournemouth, Arsenal have a massive opportunity to take control of the title race,” Merson told Sportskeeda. “The Emirates crowd will be fired up, and nothing less than a win will satisfy them.”
He also highlighted the growing pressure on Arsenal, recalling their costly collapse against Aston Villa after Liverpool’s dramatic late win over Brentford. However, he remains confident that Arsenal can secure the victory, given City’s current vulnerabilities.
“City aren’t pressing as aggressively as they used to,” he added. “In previous seasons, I’d have started Jorginho because he’s excellent at playing through pressure, but City just don’t close down like they once did. That’s why I wouldn’t pick him for this game.”
Merson also pointed to City’s recent struggles in Europe, noting that their late equaliser against Club Brugge could have led to a much trickier match. Comparing them to Liverpool’s dominant win over Lille, he suggested that City are no longer at their peak.
The last time these two sides met in the league, City rescued a point with a stoppage-time goal from John Stones in a thrilling 2-2 draw. Arsenal will be eager to go one better this time and claim a crucial win in their title challenge.