Paul Merson struggling for optimism with north London derby prediction

Arsenal star Paul Merson has predicted a draw in Sunday’s north London derby, but he is not confident the Gunners can pull it off.

MIkel Arteta’s team has won their past two trips to Tottenham, but the Spaniard is dealing with a number of selection issues this weekend.

Declan Rice is suspended after receiving a red card against Brighton last time out, while captain Martin Odegaard is expected to miss the encounter after breaking his ankle while playing for Norway in midweek.

Arteta was cautious about the Norwegian’s health and hinted he may make it for Sunday, but that seemed unlikely, as summer acquisition Mikel Merino is definitely out with a shoulder issue.

Merson feels that the loss of Rice and Odegaard will be too much for his former side and is predicting a draw, although does not sound too optimistic about even a point for Arsenal on Sunday afternoon.

‘I worry for Arsenal in the north London derby. No Declan Rice or Martin Odegaard is a huge concern,’ Merson told Sportskeeda.

‘Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne missed a lot of games last season but Manchester City were still able to win the league. Can Arsenal do the same with key players missing? Maybe not.

‘I’ll have to go with a draw here, but that’s more in hope if I’m being honest. Tottenham have been unlucky, they could’ve been top of the league if they weren’t naive at the back.

‘The fact that Arsenal’s two most influential players [Odegaard and Rice] are not playing adds to their advantage here.’

Merson reckons the right move for Arteta to make at Spurs is to drop Kai Havertz deeper and unleash loan signing Raheem Sterling up front.

The winger has not made his debut yet for Arsenal, but the Gunners hero reckons Sterling will be a threat down the middle against Tottenham’s high line.

‘In my opinion, Mikel Arteta has now got to drop Kai Havertz back into the midfield but then there’s no Gabriel Jesus to play as the striker,’ Merson told Sky Sports.

‘They will probably end up playing with a false nine – that should be Leandro Trossard with Raheem Sterling on the wing.

‘Against this Tottenham team, you have to have players who are prepared to run without the ball to get in behind a high line and Sterling does that.’

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