Arsenal double winner worried Mikel Arteta could 'end up like Arsene Wenger'

Paul Merson, who played under in the manager's first season at , is worried is in danger of repeating Wenger's downfall in North London. The England international, who won a cup double with the Gunners in 1993 as well as two league titles, made the comments on during coverage of against .

That victory ensured Arteta's team will qualify for the once more. They are likely to enter as runners-up, barring a defeat against relegated and a significant goal difference swing to .

It would be the third time in a row that Arsenal have finished second in the league, but a lack of trophies is of greater concern to Merson. Arteta led the club to glory in his first season, but hasn't been able to follow it with another league or cup triumph.

Merson recognises Arteta has taken the club forward in his time at the helm. However, he fears a repeat of Wenger's struggles, culminating in the long-serving Frenchman leaving with a whimper - unless Arteta gets the transfer backing he needs.

"If you look at the all-round picture, four/five years ago they were also-rans, the club's gone, it's going nowhere," Merson said. "He [Arteta] put the heart back in the club. The fans are here, they turn up every week again. They're not far away, they need a centre forward.

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"[They've had] a couple of injuries here and there and I know people go, 'everyone has injuries', no, they don't. Not to key, key players. I always say it, if you took [Mohamed] Salah and [Virgil van] Dijk out of that team, believe me that is not winning the league if they're out for a long period of time.

"And that's what's happened, [Bukayo] Saka's a big player for them, [Kai] Havertz, people have a go at him, he's a big player. When he hasn't been playing he's been missed.

"They need a couple of players. I hope he doesn't end up like [Arsene] Wenger did a couple of years into his reign when everyone knew they needed a centre-back. They need a centre forward."

Merson's comments come after Arsenal co-chair Josh Kroenke indicated there will be money to spend this summer. Arteta, to his credit, also recognised he has received the backing of the board over his time in charge.

"We plan to invest to get behind winning and doing better next season," Kroenke wrote in the programme ahead of the Newcastle game. "We’re delighted we have our sporting director, Andrea [Berta], who will play an important role in this.

"He is part of a unified and strong team, supported by the board, who are crystal clear on exactly what we need to do and the way in which we want to do it. The right way. The Arsenal way."

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