Arsenal Legend Paul Merson urges Mikel Arteta to bring Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang back into his starting XI ahead of Europa League.
Arsenal faces a must-win Europa League quarter-final second leg against Slavia Prague and Merson believes Auba is the key. The Gunners conceded a last-minute goal that has now complicated things with an away goal to cancel out.
According to Paul Merson Auba should be recalled for the second leg if Arteta wants to win the tie.
“It is a big game (against Slavia in the Europa League quarter-final, second leg). But at the end of the day you can only play with the hand you are dealt,” Merson said.
“There are a lot of players who are there before he was there, and I feel for him in a way as they are so up and down.
“They should have finished the game against Slavia last week. The chances they missed and Alexandre Lacazette’s is an absolute sitter when he hit the bar. It is ridiculous,” Merson explains.
“They are 10th in the league and this is Arsenal, let’s not forget. I would not say get rid of Arteta if they lost this game, though, not a chance,” he continued.
Merson insists Arsenal should have a five-year plan and that should start now on who the club should sign.
“But I think they win this game. There is a lot of turning around there, but they have to start getting a plan, a five-year plan. This will not happen overnight.
“This needs to start now because at the moment they are relying on Bukayo Saka, who is their go-to man. And Emile Smith Rowe when he plays. And no disrespect, that should not be the case,” he continued.
“They need to get someone in again and go. We have a five-year plan, who do we bring in as a recruitment manager? And we need to start targeting players and we need to plan because at the moment there is no plan. It is all off the cuff.”