{"id":331955,"date":"2026-05-09T19:13:32","date_gmt":"2026-05-09T13:43:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/?p=331955"},"modified":"2026-05-09T19:13:32","modified_gmt":"2026-05-09T13:43:32","slug":"paul-merson-says-incredible-arsenal-star-is-like-a-brand-new-signing-for-mikel-arteta-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/2026\/05\/09\/paul-merson-says-incredible-arsenal-star-is-like-a-brand-new-signing-for-mikel-arteta-football\/","title":{"rendered":"Paul Merson says ‘incredible’ Arsenal star is ‘like a brand new signing’ for Mikel Arteta | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Arsenal legend Paul Merson (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Paul Merson says two Arsenal players have been \u2018like latest signings\u2019 for Mikel Arteta and has revealed his prediction for the Premier League clash against West Ham.<\/p>\n

The Gunners travel to east London on Sunday hoping to maneuver a step closer to their first Premier League title since 2004.<\/p>\n

An away game against relegation-battlers and London rivals West Ham is seen by many because the last obstacle to Arsenal seeing off title rivals Manchester City.<\/p>\n

But Merson has backed Arsenal to clinch a \u2018comfortable win\u2019 on the London Stadium and send West Ham even closer to relegation.<\/p>\n

Merson has been impressed by Arsenal\u2019s recent form and says Myles Lewis-Skelly and Bukayo Saka have been \u2018like latest signings\u2019 for Gunners boss Arteta.<\/p>\n

Lewis-Skelly has hardly played for his boyhood club this season but startedlast weekend\u2019s Premier League win over Fulham and the next Champions League semi-final victory over Atletico Madrid.<\/p>\n

Saka scored in each of those games and has impressed since coming back from injury following a difficult spell for Arsenal throughout the middle of the season.<\/p>\n

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Mikel Arteta takes his team to West Ham on Sunday (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018This game is certainly the last hope for Manchester City by way of Arsenal slipping up within the title race again,\u2019 Merson told Sportskeeda<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2018After this, Arsenal have Burnley at home and Crystal Palace away on the ultimate day of the season. If Palace reach the Conference League final, they may definitely rest all their most important players against Arsenal.<\/p>\n

\u2018West Ham\u00a0will know it is a tough game. They’ve to return out and play since they’re trailing Spurs. I don\u2019t think that may suit them against Arsenal.<\/p>\n

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Myles Lewis-Skelly during Arsenal\u2019s Champions League win (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018Bukayo Saka looks fresh, Myles Lewis-Skelly has been incredible within the last couple of games.<\/p>\n

\u2018The thing is, Lewis-Skelly hasn\u2019t played 50 or 60 games like Declan Rice or Martin Zubimendi. He provides fresh legs in midfield at a vital stage of the season.<\/p>\n

\u2018Each Saka and Lewis-Skelly have been like latest signings for\u00a0Arsenal\u00a0on this final run-in for the title.<\/p>\n

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Bukayo Saka scored in Arsenal\u2019s last two games (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018I consider Arsenal will get a snug win here, 2-0. If that’s the case it\u2019s throughout for Man City!\u2019<\/p>\n

Ex-Premier League striker Chris Sutton has also highlighted the importance of Saka\u2019s return to Arsenal\u2019s title charge.<\/p>\n

\u2018Arsenal\u00a0appear to be a completely different proposition on the attacking front now Bukayo Saka is back within the team,\u2019 he told BBC Sport<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2018It’s going to be hard for\u00a0West Ham\u00a0to maintain them out, and it doesn\u2019t help the Hammers that they desperately need a victory here after losing last weekend while all of the teams around them won.<\/p>\n

\u2018A draw wouldn\u2019t be a disaster for\u00a0West Ham\u00a0should you took this game in isolation but, depending on what\u00a0Tottenham\u00a0do against\u00a0Leeds\u00a0on Monday night, even in the event that they pick up some extent they may find yourself further adrift.<\/p>\n

\u2018Arsenal\u00a0have had big wins at London Stadium in each of the past two seasons. I don\u2019t see them sticking 5 or 6 in again this time, but I also don\u2019t see them slipping up.\u2019<\/p>\n

Saka and Declan Rice was on the right track as Arsenal beat West Ham 2-0 within the reverse fixture on the Emirates Stadium earlier within the season.<\/p>\n

For more stories like this,\u00a0check our sport page<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Arrow<\/title>\n<\/use><\/svg>MORE: Why Casemiro and Benjamin Sesko miss Man Utd game against Sunderland<\/span><\/p>\n

Arrow<\/title>\n<\/use><\/svg>MORE: Sunderland vs Man Utd LIVE: Premier League latest rating and goal updates as Casemiro and Sesko miss out<\/span><\/p>\n

Arrow<\/title>\n<\/use><\/svg>MORE: Arsenal suffer Champions League final blow with PSG star set to return from injury<\/span><\/p>\n

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