Paul Merson urges Mikel Arteta to drop £45m Arsenal star for Leeds clash | Football

Paul Merson has encouraged Mikel Arteta to make two changes to the Arsenal team for this weekend’s Premier League clash against Leeds United.

The league leaders will look to get their title charge back on the right track following three disappointing performances once they travel to Elland Road on Saturday.

Manchester City dropped points in 4 successive games earlier this month but Arsenal failed to completely capitalise as they were held to draws by Liverpool and Nottingham Forest before losing to Manchester United.

Merson has urged the Arsenal squad to ‘step up’ ahead of a potentially tricky clash against Leeds, describing the sport as their ‘biggest of the season’ to date.

Leeds endured a slow begin to the season back within the Premier League but have only lost once in 11 games since December, beating Chelsea and drawing with Liverpool and Manchester United during that point.

Merson is confident Arsenal will get back to winning ways at Elland Road but believes Arteta should recall Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Martinelli after each were benched in favour of Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard against the resurgent Red Devils.

‘That is the sport, isn’t it? Leeds away won’t be easy, little question it,’ former Gunners winger Merson told Sportskeeda.

‘Playing first makes an enormous difference this weekend. If Arsenal win, they go seven points clear at the highest and Manchester City still should go to Tottenham. That isn’t a foul state to be in.

‘There are still 14 games left after this clash against Leeds and I consider Arsenal aren’t feeling the nerves just yet. The equation changes in the event that they lose, but I expect them to get a vital win here.

‘Leeds were outstanding in the primary half against Everton last weekend. I don’t think they’ll put 10 men behind the ball on this game. I fully expect Leeds to have a go at Arsenal.

‘When Eberechi Eze got here on against Manchester United last weekend, the Arsenal fans were going ballistic. I assume most of them felt he was being very casual on the ball.

‘But that’s just the way in which he plays and it’s not his fault! The thing with Eze is that he’s a special player. He’s elegant when he gets on the ball and I feel the fans need to offer him time.

‘I mean no disrespect to Palace, nevertheless it’s not the identical while you join Arsenal. The pressure is all the time on you and I consider Eze remains to be getting used to it. I hope they offer him time.

‘Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Martinelli should come into the starting line-up for this game. Leandro Trossard provides you with a little bit of guile, but I feel Martinelli’s pace will probably be really useful against Leeds.

‘Everybody has to step up, even the defence let in three goals last day trip. That is Arsenal’s biggest game of the season. In the event that they lose and the lead comes all the way down to a single point, I don’t think they win the league!

‘So this can be a humungous game and I’m predicting a really crucial 2-0 win for the visitors.’

Arsenal put their Premier League title aspirations on hold on Wednesday night as they accomplished a flawless Champions League group phase by beating Kairat.

£64m summer signing Gyokeres scored Arsenal’s opener within the 3-2 win, while Martinelli and the returning Kai Havertz also got on the scoresheet.

Arteta’s side won all eight of their European games, ending top of the Champions League group phase and advancing straight to the knockout stages.

Arsenal reached the semi-finals of last season’s Champions League before losing to eventual winners PSG.

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