Sign-in with your Online Gooner forum login to add your comment. If you do not have a login register here.

1. H Salem

   Sep 19, 2011, 12:36 #13034

   My friend you must NOT take offence at some of the ludicrous comments Paul generally makes, after all, its common knowledge that the man has had his issues with recreation drugs, alcohol, gambling & god knows what else, you don't need to be MD to realise that the cumulative result of this has resulted in a significant deminishment of the efficacy of his grey matter, he along with Ian Wright (who never ever was position to deal from a full deck) are not invited into TV studios for their comprehensive footballing knowledge nor for their clear & concise communication with the viewers, they are invited simply for their "colour" meaning their character i.e. stupidity, limited vocabulary, their ability to cock up the most common of cliches & most importantly for their ability to produce inaudible yelps & squeals. The thing that surprises me, is how members of their families, friends & even themselves haven't come to the obvious realisation that they are making serious fools of themselves on TV (I'm sure that their opinion is not coloured by the SKY money that they desperatley clutch & claw for, in an attempt, I would assume to make up for all the shillings they have blown due to their blatantly flawed personas). Stewart Robson is another matter entirely, how he is still employed by the club to comment on the TV Channels coverage of games etc baffles me !! Theirs not enough space in this box for me to spew my vitriol regarding Robson. Why they can't follow the lead of the likes of Keown & Smith etc & attempt to provide a proper attempt at analysis coloured with a little opinion is beyond me !! I came to a simple conclusion a long time ago (as result of listening religously to the Post Playing Career comments of Mr T Adams), playing the game & managing / commenting on the game are two totally different entities, generally a person can only be good at one & average at best at the other. Am I the only who has realised that majority of pundits in existance are failed managers / coaches (who are no longer able to get work in that world)& former great players who long for the limelight, I generally just laugh at the studity of their comments & think back to the days when we used to have to be subjected to the droning David Pleat commenting on Arsenal European Games or the Neanderthal Bigot that is Ron Atkinson, now those were dark days that made me wish to commit violence !!

2. Mark Gallacher (WORCS)

   Sep 18, 2011, 15:04 #12957

   I agree but maybe he cares as it has gone downhill so much in recent years. I love what Merse says, and I think he and the likes of Wrighty are allowed to say what they like. I think its just frustration to see our great club win 3 games in 16.

3. Rich

   Sep 18, 2011, 8:09 #12899

   I have no problem with ex players speaking their mind. Maybe Arsene should listen to them rather than sticking his fingers in his ears and ignoring the obvious problems..

4. J. Schettino

   Sep 17, 2011, 23:20 #12895

   Rave On Paul Merson Rave On. This is your time. Arsenal are a rudderles mess and these scrap heap players Arsenal picked up on the cheap are our ticket to oblivion. The team really needs the fans support if it is going to survive. We are not talking about rebuilding here. Just pick up enough pointsto make it beyond this season and inevitably some new leadership.

5. Stewart

   Sep 17, 2011, 21:14 #12889

   Merson and Wrighty are Arsenal through and through and speak because they are worried about our club. After an unforgivable 8-2 at Man Utd and now defeat at Blackburn the rose tinted Wenger knows best glasses must come off before this gets worse. You cannot live in awe of Wengers past glories. We moved from the Home of Football to the Emirates to compete with the big boys and obviously to make the board rich, only one of these things have worked. What a surprise that is. My question is how long do we leave this before the club acts and thinks of us supporters instead of themselves. Arsenal Football Clubs board still believes its own hype and has not opened its eyes to the real world of todays football business. Football has changed and we must too. These are very testing days for us all.

6. Simon

   Sep 17, 2011, 16:40 #12883

   What are you talking about. Merson and Wright are clearly Arsenal men through and through the fact that we are so poor at the moment clearly hurts them as much as any Arsenal fan!

7. West Stand Rob

   Sep 17, 2011, 10:00 #12877

   Merse actually talks sense, his predictions are correct, his concerns about Arsenal are clear, he takes the piss out of himself sometimes, leave him alone. He is perceptive and makes constructive comments. I suppose all that would offend you if you live in a rose tinted world where criticism should be banned. He makes the point on occasion about the cost to Arsenal fans compared to other clubs, something the media and other pundits dont mention.

8. Joe Mardon

   Sep 16, 2011, 14:36 #12856

   In the defence of Merse, he did strongly state that losing Arsene would still be the worse thing that could happen to the club. There's a common thread between the negative Arsenal men in the media, with Merse, Smith and Wrighty all being shown the door by Wenger (even though injury/age played a part with Smith). There is no excuse for Stewart Robson still being on the Arsenal pay roll.

9. fozzy's mate

   Sep 16, 2011, 9:52 #12839

   Good debate and I do think merse talks some ****e but he gives us a few laughs. The general point is misplaced as these pundits are paid to give an opinion and unlike OGLS cheerleaders such as Bob Wilson, terry Neil and co are capable of having one other than Wenger is god. Merse is not the brightest but the consistent opinion of pundits is that we have got it wrong over the last few years and as our expectations are lower than for a long time I agree. I picked up on the RVP point as it is one I have raised myself. Not that he would be gone if he had stayed fit but that he would have been faced with the same temptations others have succumbed to so in a peverse way his injuries may have in the long term been to our benefit.

10. Barry Chuckle

    Sep 16, 2011, 8:33 #12830

    Steward Robson is my footballing hero

11. Mick Appleton

    Sep 16, 2011, 7:43 #12827

    It's sad to see that everything anyone says comes down to either being a AKB or a Wenger hater. I am neither, I've enjoyed the good & taken him to task for the bad. My comments about Merson are made because he is totally negative all the time. Charlie Nicholas criticises the club but in a more constructive way, I have done the same on here but it is always met by "you're a rose tinter or an AKB merchant". I don't see our current situation as all doom & gloom as I've been through many ups & downs in the 50 years I have supported the club & whilst I am not happy with where we are I accept that we have been in worse positions during my time. We are now playing on a level playing field, if you don't have a sugar daddy nowadays you can't compete. As I pointed out I loved Merse as a player but I think that he takes any frustration he feels too far & I have had enough of it.

12. bunch

    Sep 16, 2011, 3:23 #12825

    He is putting a voice to the concerns of a lot of fans. Everybody in football can see that Arsenal will win nothing more until Wenger has gone. The likes of Neville are quite happy to soothe, "well done, not too bad" because the longer Wenger stays the longer there is no challenge coming from London N5. Same with Thompson and all of them. The last thing they want is a Mourihno, or a Hiddinck or a Ancellotti rocking up at Arsenal and putting some serious steel into the side. Criticising where we are now, and what has led us to where we are now, means you love Arsenal. Pretending everything is fine means you want us to continue to sink.

13. GaryFootscrayAustralia

    Sep 16, 2011, 2:58 #12824

    Ronster, your point about Merse being able to show two title medals to anyone who would want to discredit his opinion as unqualified is only half true...he won a cup double and a ECWC medal as well! And yes, I know Merson now has the brain of a pickled onion, but to paraphrase a fellow poster from a couple of months back, and I apologise for plagiarism, "players like Merson fought hard every week and won trophies, and he was pissed most of the time". As for the ex - Arsenal player pundits in general, it's just a shame they're caught up working for such an insidious, corrupt industry, instead of directly involved with the club's squads at all levels, including the first team. It would be a far greater use of their knowledge and passion for the club - they wouldn't have to talk crap like everyone else on Footy TV and us lot wouldn't have to verbally slap each other over what is realistically a trivial subject. Merson is a pretty simple operator, let's not hang him out because we've confused passion and inarticulate frustration with animosity.

14. Mandy Dodd

    Sep 16, 2011, 0:08 #12823

    The problem with the likes of wrighty and Merson is not the fact that they are expressing opinions but the point that they have been given a platform but constantly inflict lazy, immature, ill thought out points of view. Yes everything was perfect at all times under their Rose tinted vision of george Graham. wonder if messers wright and Merson still think we should have signed that villa keeper? Are they still in deep depression that we did not sign Scott Parker - gawd bless I'm, English spine and all that, supposedly the one man to cure all our ills, must be missing something with him.....

15. Rob Bullen

    Sep 15, 2011, 23:41 #12822

    Perhaps they are having a go at the current regime and not the club. people who care are normally critical, perhaps like most of us, Merse wants better, wants the Old Arsenal back. compare it to being a parent, you are more critical of your own kids, because you deperately want them to do well. get the chip off your shoulder pal, being critical does not make you a bad supporter, but a caring one, plastic fans like you get on my nerves with go supprt the Spuds and he must be a closet Chelsea fan, grow up will ypu!

16. Andrew Cohen

    Sep 15, 2011, 22:51 #12821

    8-2. The last time we lost by a score like that was before the days of a manager as ineffectual as Leslie Knighton. Mr Wenger can no longer motivate or coach the team. Paul Merson and the great Ian Wright(so good they named him thrice). These players have talents that have nothing to do with verbal dexterity and did material damage to our enemies game after game, season after season. They are supremely well qualified to comment on these matters. Can I venture to suggest, even better qualified than you? I would like them to spend time with our midfielders and our strikers. They know something about inducing material errors in the opposition. They know about winning things. They are old enough and experienced enough to know a shocking disgrace when they see it. People, however academically gifted they may or may not be, can all see that we need a change of managerial direction NOW. We can't all be thrilled to death with the Arsenal again and buy our copies of Pravda Matchday Magazine to learn that everything in the garden is peachey, until this happens.

17. johnnyh

    Sep 15, 2011, 22:27 #12820

    this piece is absolute nonsense. is it mersons fault that wenger has never bought a top class keeper? is it his fault we cant defend setpieces? is it his fault we couldnt beat a relegated team in the carling cup final? in my opinion paul merson is arsenal through and through. he says on tv what the rest of us unblinkered gooners say in private,no matter who he offends. long may it continue.

18. Alastair Kerr

    Sep 15, 2011, 22:16 #12819

    Merson is a true Gooner . Any negativity is borne out of frustration at the way the team has underacheived in recent seasons, he is only mirroring what most supporters are feeling at the moment.

19. BOO SUCKS!

    Sep 15, 2011, 20:34 #12817

    I sooo agree with you. Why aren't our old players wrecking their integrity and reputation as pundits by agreeing with everything Arsene Wenger says and being one eyed and saying every five minutes that this is the bestest team in the whole wide world? I hate them, booooo!

20. Hatfield Red

    Sep 15, 2011, 20:34 #12816

    I think merse speaks sense, we have fallen to fighting for 4th. He just says it how he sees it, sometimes the truth just hurts.

21. Jack

    Sep 15, 2011, 19:39 #12815

    If you dont want to hear the truth go to Pravda.com.There you will find lie upon lie about everything Arsenal.You can hear Wenger's lastest bull**** interview where the interviewer tickles his tummy.At Pravada we have had a great start to the season.Or maybe just bury your head in the sand.The rest of us want to hear the truth about our once great club going down the pan.

22. dan

    Sep 15, 2011, 19:01 #12814

    Nope.it's you who deserves the good kicking,everything he say's is true,just accept the fact we are now **** and move on.

23. Arsene Loser

    Sep 15, 2011, 18:59 #12813

    This sums up the new breed of Arsenal fan.Slag off a legend.If the Magic Man didnt love the club he would be kissing Wenger's arse like Parlour and Winterburn.Everything he says is true.Some of the planks slagging off the Merse couldnt have seen him play.The man is a winner yes remember we used to win trophies unlike the shower we have pulling the shirt on now.And the Magic Man never played in a side that lost EIGHT TWO.Well done the Merse Wrighty and Frank McLintock for not towing the Pravda line

24. nugs

    Sep 15, 2011, 18:54 #12812

    I think they just see what the majority of arsenal fans and the rest of the football world see, so jon you think were on a level with barca and the mancs do you?

25. Ronster

    Sep 15, 2011, 18:40 #12811

    The trophy winning teams I've been fortunate to witness had their fair share of 'characters'...Peter Storey,Charlie George,Sammy Nelson,Alan Sunderland,Kenny Sansom,Charlie Nicholas,Tony Adams,Raymond Parlour,Paddy Vieira to name but a few and they plied their trade in a stadium that was rough round the edges.It is no coincidence that the modern day,sterile, soulless,politically correct Arsenal have deteriorated to this sorry mess.Paul Merson was one of those 'characters' and can waive two League Title medals at anyone throwing around cheap abuse.Forever in your debt 'Magic Man!'

26. clockendpaul

    Sep 15, 2011, 17:09 #12809

    Have listerned to most of his comments, thought they were mostly correct. They do say the truth hurts.

27. Graham

    Sep 15, 2011, 16:50 #12808

    The AKB's cant defend that fool Wenger anymore so now they attack one of our legends.Pathetic.Some of our fans are so precious if you criticise Wenger or his team of losers you are not a real supporter.I tell you what real supporters are not happy seeing our club being run into the ground so Kroenke can make profits.We need more pundits like the Merse and Wrighty who are expressing what us fans think instead of sitting on the fence like Parlour

28. chris boy

    Sep 15, 2011, 16:43 #12807

    are you having a laugh, merse is a gooner through and through, would you rather listen to a lap dog of wenger who tells us everything is fine and dandy, merse gets upset like the rest of us when we lose, and ive also been lucky enough to be in his company a few times and what he says he says as a fan. Would you rather jamie redknapp sat there slagging us of, no i want to see someone who actually cares about arsenal put there views accross like each one of us do on this site. Keep it up merse !

29. Howard

    Sep 15, 2011, 15:36 #12805

    So basically you want Merson to lie.And say that fraudster Wenger is doing a good job and that we have a good team.Well i dont, i want him to tell the truth.Any pundit who defends Wenger now is an idiot.Well done the magic man

30. R Meade

    Sep 15, 2011, 15:35 #12804

    Rubbish someone does not agree with your views so slag them off?? Great. You can all bury your heads in the sand pretend it's not happening what are you hoping for? that it's only 8-3 next time.

31. s j littleLimerick

    Sep 15, 2011, 14:37 #12803

    He is only talking sense. Wenger has run the team into the ground and still retains rubbish like Diaby,Almunia,Rosicky,Squillaci,Djourou,Fabianski,Chamakh,alll of these are never up to the standard that Arsenal shound maintain. Then there is Walcott,Ramsey, who are merely possibly reasonable back up but should not be retaining places that the likes of Lansbury are denied. Arshaven shoud be used in his proper position or not at all, Van Persie should be used anywhere in the forward line except as striker which wastes his talents and denies the team of a real robust quick thinking striker. Koscielny is brilliant at stopping his direct opponent but a grave risk once he moves away to take on elsewhere because he "dangles" rather than attacks the issue thus giving away needless free kicks, at which of course Arsenal can't defend very well. Song brilliant but all is spoilt by the clumsy needless "tackles" that so often result in goals against at critical moments of a game. Then there are the complete lack of any tactical sense about most games and the lack of obvious substitutions not being made at the right time in a game. it always seems to be that substitutions must be only allowed with 20 minutes to go in Wengers fixed mindset. Then we have to ask why is that a player bought for £20,000,000 can,t get a place in this Arsenal team? Gibbs is preferred to Santos, Chamakh is preferred to Park, and so on. Its only Merson but just about everybody can see whats wrong with Wengers Arsenal. Look at the time we had to endure useless Goalkeepers,centrebacks, and we hav,nt had an aggressive or exciting winger since Ljungberg. Oh there is no end to our woes made all the worse because we could have won at least two more League titles with but two top signings! And then what about the total disregard of Arsenal fans by not competing for the Cups for four years.

32. Gee

    Sep 15, 2011, 14:26 #12802

    Wenger hoofed him out the club prior to his first full season in charge. Then we won the double with Overmars, Anelka, Vieira and Petit. He's bitter. However there is an element of truth to what he's saying. He is just saying it how he sees it. He called the meagre performance vs Swansea as he said we are not the sort of team that comes out like a wounded animla and thrashes a team 5-0 after a set back. AND HE IS RIGHT. You got to admit that when we are doing well he bigs us up something chronic. He's just extreme one way or other

33. Ron

    Sep 15, 2011, 14:24 #12801

    You should do yourself a favour and cancel your Sky subscription. its as if there is a law that says it has to be in every home and that any homeowner without it is in some way a deprived soul. The entire cast of its pundits are largely losers or never beens, trying to rouse controversy and ignite over the top debate. Merson is essentially a very undereducated type. Its OK to be that as he can be funny at times, but hes made for Sky, a true eg of a TV outfit that set up to appeal to those who need a dumbed down product. Im not at all saying thats you. You clearly arent, but i suspect youre sucked into the 'Sky counts syndrome'. I was in it up to my neck for about 3 years. The warms feeling i got when i phoned them and told them i was cancelling the direct debit was great. What i used to pay now buys a weeks holiday break some where and i never hear Merson, Redknapp or that atrocious 'Jim' the Scot who creams at the transfer window coundown as he tells you, beady eyed and loudly that Derek Windbottom 'might'be moving from Ebbsfleet to Malvern Town but its not yet certain. Get rid of it. Its garbage.

34. Danny

    Sep 15, 2011, 13:46 #12800

    you idiots who pick on Merson are need to get their ass out of your backside, just like the AKB clown. MERSON was a great player for the Arsenal. Half you Johnny come lately probably haven’t see Merson play for us Merson like Wrighty are telling the truth and Wenger needs to go and we have become the laughing stock of the league. Why don’t we have legends promoting the team. Is Wenger such arrogant bastard that he prefer the limelight The quicker he goes the better!

35. Nick

    Sep 15, 2011, 13:45 #12799

    Everyones entitled to an opinion and merse has got his for whatever reasons agree hes not very bright so had to laugh when dave referred to reading "his" book you dont really think merse wrote it do you? id be surprised if hes even read it himself on a more serious note i was pleased with the effort and the win on saturday and i know the new boys have yet to settle but unless wenger switches on with his tactics then im afraid were in for a tough season theo was having a mare and the fullback had him in his pocket and he hasnt got the sense himself to swap wings so why not shuffle things a bit and take him off and give young chamberlain a go he could not have been any less effective than walcott and if your not going to give him a chance against swansea then when and against who oh i know well wait till were being absolutely hammered away from home against a top rival and do his confidence the world of good and bring him on with twenty minutes to go with no hope of influencing the game one way or the other

36. Lee Bedford

    Sep 15, 2011, 13:23 #12798

    Word of advice my fellow gooner, if i may? CANCEL your sky sports subscription like i did! Sky are FULL of anti Arsenal muppets, Merse is not one of them, there is good in him he is just hurting like the rest of us Gooners but them morons at sky pay his salary to stick the boot in and be controversial! My blood pressure is a lot better the last three months (ok apart from OT mauling), since I got rid of sky 'anti-arsenal' sports! Trust me youll feel like a new man LOL!

37. ed enough

    Sep 15, 2011, 13:22 #12797

    Merse was a fat drunk when he played...now he's a Fat, washed up drunk who can berely string a sentence together...Sky's coverage has nose dived since Gray and Keys left....Neville and Redknapp are just the pits and merse is somehow even worse!

38. win AFC

    Sep 15, 2011, 13:21 #12796

    I totaly agree with you mark. NO ex Arsenal player should take the piss out of there former club or clubs. When i was a kid i used to look up to players like Merson and to think George Graham kept him in line when he was a piss artist.

39. maguiresbridge gooner

    Sep 15, 2011, 13:19 #12795

    @mick appleton apologize for spelling your name wrong i must be related to merse.

40. Howard Davies

    Sep 15, 2011, 13:19 #12794

    I agree Mick, Merse is very hard to take. What I would say is that I think his comments are meant innocently, and genuinely, he's just a bit thick. Merse never knows anything before it's happened. Today he'll he saying that we'll be lucky to qualify 6th. In a year's time he'll probably be saying how the players (the one's he doesn't rate now) are worldies and he worries for us (again) if we sell them. Personally I have a bigger dislike for Smudger, who obviously has a genuine affection for the club, and yet won't say a positive word in our favour for fear of tainting the neutrality of his media career. Smudger isn't thick, he's just politically correct in the extreme, you'll never, ever hear an original opinion from Smith. He tries to go through his playing career without receiving a yellow card, and now he's trying to do likewise in his media career.

41. dave

    Sep 15, 2011, 13:17 #12793

    he is arsenal through and through, he's just one of those people we've all sat next to who go over the top with their moaning. I yelled at the screen the day before the man u game when he predicted the score could easily be something silly. well he was right and i was wrong

42. truth

    Sep 15, 2011, 13:16 #12792

    Real talk. I thought its just me, whenever paul merson is a pundit in our match he just talks s*** & we lose or draw the match I also think he's got bad luck

43. Pete

    Sep 15, 2011, 13:15 #12791

    Look. Merson openly admits that he spent £7 million on gambling, drinking and sticking powder up his nose. How can anyone possibly take any notice of what he has to say? The man is thick and if he says "very much so" to one more question!! His remarks about Van Persie were absolutely disgraceful and a real insult to the club. I doubt whether he has ever forgiven Wenger for seeing what a wreck he was and how unprofessional his attitude to the game was and outing him immediately.

44. Chippie

    Sep 15, 2011, 13:12 #12790

    I totally disagree, yes Merse does have an axe to grind, but in my opinion he isn’t that far off the mark. He is just saying how he sees it, lets face it we are getting worse by the season and I honestly can’t see with this squad us getting better than 6th place on the league. The board have taken millions out of the club and haven’t invested in the team. They have tried to do things on the cheap and now look at us. Regarding RVP we have stared negotiations on a new contract, do you honestly think he will sign with the dross he is playing with. It is very sad times for us right now.

45. Leon

    Sep 15, 2011, 13:01 #12789

    This boils down to a dislike of Arsene Wenger simply because one of the first things Wenger did was ship Merson out to Middlesbrough. It not good for a club aspiring for top honours to have an alcoholic gambling addict on the books is it ? Just sour grapes to me from someone who has no understanding of the english language. Who in public television says things like "aint never". Really !

46. maguiresbridge gooner

    Sep 15, 2011, 12:53 #12788

    agree with you mike the only surprise is he hasn't reminded everybody about his problems for a couple of weeks now.

47. Jon

    Sep 15, 2011, 12:51 #12787

    I absolutely agree with P-MG as well. This publication and the forum is so anti-arsenal it's crazy! Calling Wenger a c**t on the forum should be an automatic ban! Seriously hang your head if you beleive he should be called this!

48. Oliver Chessis

    Sep 15, 2011, 12:51 #12786

    I think this is a little harsh. I actually think the opposite, that his comments and frustration demonstrate his love for the club.

49. Chris

    Sep 15, 2011, 12:51 #12785

    I would rather hear Merson go over the top with some of his home truth's than have to watch Dwight Yorke looking like he is about to cry anytime someone dares to say Man Utd are anything but perfect.

50. Arsene is a Fraudster

    Sep 15, 2011, 12:47 #12784

    He grew up chelsea as a kid like Ian Wright did Millwall and Parlour and Adams were West Ham. Bould supported Stoke, Dixon City, etc etc etc. Just because Merson who loves this club doesnt spout Arsenal.com propaganda that means he should go back to Chelsea apparently. He cares more about this club then 99% of the plums we get at The Holloway Bowl nowadays. The truth hurts, obviously.

51. Ozil

    Sep 15, 2011, 12:47 #12783

    "I've always known he's not the sharpest tool in the box but his stupidity plumbs new depths when he talks about how bad we are, how the players we bought are panic buys, how our tactics are rubbish & then tips us to win 4-0?" hahahah! Simply his cognitive brain doesn't work at all. He's stupidity personified. You crazy you idolized him. He's not alone the Media are full of stupid pundits like Rednapp,Collymore and like. There's a conspiracy in the media to select the dumbest from retired players to make them experts? After all they need people who can get along with their agenda of bashing some teams.

52. Rob

    Sep 15, 2011, 12:45 #12782

    I disagree. I don't have Sky so I don't see or hear him all the time but last season he bemoaned the Club's failure to act in the transfer market whilst always 'saying' they make money. Is he wrong ? And is that 'unconstructive' criticism ? Or is it the case that Wenger's followers are too precious to face the facts ? As for the criticism voiced by 'Chuckie' on Frank McLintock, if you really have been following Arsenal for 50 years or more you'd know just what Frank did for the Club with his leadership. That was taking us out of a 17 year wilderness to European success and then our first Double. Boy do we need an on the pitch leader like Frank now. I don't recall humiliations like OT happening on his watch. After this season it will only leave Wenger ten more attempts and he'll equal that 17 year 'record'. However I will conceed you are correct about Ian Wright.

53. Jenari Exar Kun

    Sep 15, 2011, 12:42 #12781

    Seriously, are you expecting him to say that Wenger is the greatest manager that ever lived and that he got his tactics spot on against Utd and that we were just unlucky to concede 8 goals!!! Of course he is going to criticize and rightly so - there are too many fans who have no passion for the club and don't give a damn if the club is in decline. Once Merson comes to terms with the fact that we are no longer contenders (just like Nicholas has) then his comments will reflect our new status of Europa challengers. At the moment he is just another hurt fan voicing his opions at this sad state of affairs!

54. Mike Walsh

    Sep 15, 2011, 12:37 #12780

    It seems to be an on-going trend that the Arsenal receive these sort of comments from ex-players. It would be interesting to hear whether Manchester or Liverpool fans have the same thoughts about their former players when commentating on games or writing articles. I found the negativity and comments made during the Dortmund match completely out of order. Merson joins the ranks of Wright, Smith and, whenever anyone can bother to ask his opinion, O'Leary, rubbishing the club. Happy to hear constructive criticism but these ex-players are reluctant to say a positive thing about the future.

55. GD

    Sep 15, 2011, 12:23 #12779

    Paul Merson is my favourite pundit. He's a working mans man, says it like it is and in my opinion despite his accent is like really knows his stuff (unlike 99% of other pundits) So I say enough of Mick Appleton already

56. magic man

    Sep 15, 2011, 12:22 #12778

    Merse loves the club, but he is right. our tactics are shockingly bad, and our 4-1-5 formation will be what comes back and bites us in the bottoms come the seasons end ....

57. Mandy Dodd

    Sep 15, 2011, 12:21 #12777

    Completely agree with you. Also agree on Robson and Wrighty. They seem to go out of their way to pander to prevailing media attitudes, maybe even going the extra mile due to connections to the club. Quite sickening but they are probably, in some cases only telling the world what the Sun and Sky tell them to - and we all know what these 2 media outlets think of Arsenal. Robson works for the club -tactically astute and intelligent and should do better. Ian Wright - we all know he has one or two reasons to feel bitter towards the manager if not the club in general. And Merson - has been a hero - but lets face it, has his issues. But there are honourable exceptions to this lot, step forward The Romford Pele, Winterburn, Keown and to an extent Dixon - they may voice concern but not unbridled and constant negativity.

58. Chuks

    Sep 15, 2011, 12:21 #12776

    @Mick. Paul Merson is a pundit. He is paid to offer his opinion on football matches on SKY. That is his job. To call things as he sees them. A pundit's job is not to molly cuddle his ex-team if they are not performing well(which frankly we are not doing now to bee honest). He might not be the most articulate or brightest pundit but at least he speaks from the heart and yes I do listen to him and will continue to do so. He has a right to his opinion just as you do. He played very well and won trophies for Arsenal as a player and his heart is in the right place. I personally would have been upset with him if his punditry involved trying to paint a rosy picture of the current fraught situation in Arsenal. Bottomline is this - if you do not like his criticism of Arsenal, do not watch him on SKY(or yes I just realised you said you don't and that is fair enough) I do hope we show intent by beating Blackburn this saturday. Now where are my blood pressure tablets.....

59. Dave

    Sep 15, 2011, 12:17 #12775

    Having read his hilarious book, Merse clearly wears his heart on his sleeve so is I believe what he says is pretty much from the heart. And to be quite frank, he is absolutely right when it comes to his assessment of the mess we are in right now. Parlour, Robson and Winterburn who I all highly admire (esp Parlour) would love to say the stuff he says but fluff round it most the time so good on Merse for saying what he thinks.

60. no. 1 is perry groves....

    Sep 15, 2011, 12:16 #12774

    the merse is a legend, he is only voicing the same concerns/fears that most fans have. you should be directing this at the sky sports presenters, the continous splurge of anti arsenal propaganda voiced from their presenters and the way they court harry rednapp like his a f#cking hero makes me sick.

61. divingrooney

    Sep 15, 2011, 12:15 #12773

    Its all Wenger's fault. Fergie keeps all his older players involved with the club, uses his clout to get them jobs, lends them players on loan when they need them, etc etc. In return, he gets their praise, and a few easy wins here and there. Wenger does nothing of the sort, and keeps all these legends, as far away from the club as possible. Of course, they are bitter and hate Wenger....

62. CD

    Sep 15, 2011, 12:14 #12772

    I can see how and why Merson makes your blood boil Mick, but is it a case of don't shoot the messenger? I think that Merson is so utterly frustrated with the situation at our club that he can't but help go into overdrive on the subject, simply because like a lot of us he can't see any light at the end of the tunnel. Hence his negative stance is simply a reaction to help him overcome his own deep pent up frustrations with Wenger and the Arsenal board. I do believe he does want Arsenal to be number one again, but possibly also has a private agenda going on here as well. Wenger sold him to Boro when at the time he clearly did not want to leave and missed out on the success that followed shortly after his departure. Hence he may have resented Wenger ever since, which is now possibly coming to the fore, although to be fair to him he did say recently the worst thing the club could do is get rid of Wenger. I personally don't agree with him on that assessment, as I believe the club/fans are now so divided that the boil needs lancing with a new manager in charge, preferably with the board being replaced as well.

63. Davy

    Sep 15, 2011, 12:10 #12771

    If you know that he is an alcoholic, and how he was kicked off from Arsene Wenger's team as a player, you probably know his mentality and will not take it seriously.

64. Richard Ansell

    Sep 15, 2011, 12:07 #12770

    Normally I would agree with you, Mick, as I have always suspected a media bias against Arsenal, but this time Wenger and co deserve all the stick coming their way. I am afraid the truth hurts and just like Merse I find it very difficult to be constructive when it comes to the mad, mad world of Arsene Wenger.

65. Theopants Superstar

    Sep 15, 2011, 12:05 #12769

    Although Merson has never been one of my favourite pundits due to his general all-round poor analysis, and agreeing that he often does go over the top with regards Arsenal, the truth is that he, along with Wrighty and Stewart Robson, are reflecting the views and concerns of a huge proportion of gooners, no matter how annoying/painful it may be to hear and accept. I, for one, would rather hear their opinions and take any points I feel to be relevant on board, than to swallow the almost fictional stuff that is fed to us by the club and official website.

66. WestUpperRed

    Sep 15, 2011, 12:02 #12768

    I like Merse and actually find him spot on more often than not. Like all those with genuine affinity for the club he is visibly hurt by how we are being run and i quite like his style of questioning Wenger. As for Gary Neville he seems to be revelling, as far as i can tell, in our demise so can afford a few throw away back handed compliments. Neville will alwasy be Man U scum and Merse will always be a ledge, dont get it twisted again Mick [wink]

67. Auu

    Sep 15, 2011, 11:58 #12767

    Yeah he's started annoying me lately as well- even though I am anything but an AKB he just keeps saying inane stuff where he shouldn't say anything. Remember that thing he said about Wenger giving players some type of pill even though he was with him for what- 4 months? Wenger said he'd quit if another player testified but no one did...

68. fleet

    Sep 15, 2011, 11:57 #12766

    Merse & Wrighty just say what a lot of us think which is a good thing, Merse is not the mose eloquent but speaks a lot of sense in my opinion, cant argue with most of what he says, just because its negative doesnt mean he is not a fan!

69. Stixx

    Sep 15, 2011, 11:55 #12765

    Sorry, dont agree with you. Sometimes it takes someone like Merse who normally has leanings toward the 'AKB' tendendancy to speak out rather than tow the line to really let people know that things are going awry! I'm sorry but just remaining positive and hoping for things to go well just does not work!

70. Ben Jones

    Sep 15, 2011, 11:51 #12764

    Couldn't agree more. I hate the man. All that stuff about taking injections, simply to sell a book was pathetic. Chelsea are welcome to him.

71. David

    Sep 15, 2011, 11:50 #12763

    I couldn't agree more, I don't think the guy engages his brain before he speaks, I also think there is an unlying dislike for AW.

72. GoonerNW5

    Sep 15, 2011, 11:43 #12762

    I heartily agree with you, Merson is disgrace and should shut up about arsenal, who treated him with respect and understanding when he was having his well publicised drug problems! He and other well known pundits Lee Dixon, Stewart Robson etc are always cricising the club! Their critcism is not even constructive, just full of vitriol! jealousy? Gooner

73. Smeer Na$ri (with ****)

    Sep 15, 2011, 11:40 #12761

    It's just sour grapes because Wenger got rid of him when he was still a good player. I would have liked him to stay a couple more seasons before he left, but I don't think he had the choice. He was sort of a Wenger-type player but not a Wenger-type person. But **** him, we got better players after him, and he's only on Sky because he's guaranteed to say something stupid.

74. Lawrence

    Sep 15, 2011, 11:40 #12760

    I believe it's all down to disappointments. We were all on the Wenger project dream and all believed it would work. It did not work and now it's a rebuilding project. One that could be easily repaired, but I and many others and I include Legend and Wrighty are frustrated because it was very easy to see what we could have had. Anyway lets get behind any eleven that put on the red & white jersey and support them come what may. More importantly lets start marking the Grove a theatre of noise.

75. Chuckie

    Sep 15, 2011, 11:36 #12759

    I totally agree about Merson, , I switch over immediately he opens his big mouth, I am also dissappointed in Sky TV as a whole in regard to Arsenal, however I do like both Jamie Redknapp and Gary Neville who I did not warm to as a player but as pundits I think they are very fair and sensible, Alan Smith is also weak and smarmy and as for that old Leicester Midfielder Savage on ESPN he is even worse as a Pundit than as a kicking Player, and the Commentator on ITV never commentates when Arsenal are on, he just dwells on past incidents in other games such as sending offs etc., etc., BBC I can handle, Keown, Dixon even the others, I respect Parlour and Robson when I hear them but not McLintock as he is totally the Graham way, and the Graham way and Wenger way are totally different, and I know which I prefer, I am a Pensioner who has supported the Gunners for over 60 years, and during that time Wenger is head and shoulders above all other managers,even when Graham was in charge the moaming in the crowd was rife at the boring Football, it is very true to say that the Arsenal Crowd are atrocious at supporting their team.

76. Goonerboy

    Sep 15, 2011, 11:34 #12758

    Its not negativity about the club, he has a gripe with Wenger, who told he had no future at the club and sold him off. He is a moron and like you I turn over when he is giving his worthless opinions.

77. D

    Sep 15, 2011, 11:33 #12757

    Merse has a massive chip on his shoulder about Wenger, its well known. He left soon after AW arrived and has never got the Wenger-style of play. He prefered the old GG way of win-ugly, hence his comments about "putting bodies" on the line at the Dortmund game. Wouldnt worry too much about it, as you say, he isnt the sharpest tool in the box anyway!

78. AshburtonMark

    Sep 15, 2011, 11:32 #12756

    Sad, but true! I'm glad to find that I'm not the only one who feels this way.

79. George

    Sep 15, 2011, 11:32 #12755

    He was pretty complementary on Tuesday. In fact compared to recent times, he was downright gushing with praise.

80. anto

    Sep 15, 2011, 11:31 #12754

    ian wrights the worst.used to luv him but all he does now is put us down bcos wenger got rid of him

81. P-MG

    Sep 15, 2011, 11:30 #12753

    He's the punditry version of this website, not sure why your complaining, have you read this place?

82. Jon

    Sep 15, 2011, 11:23 #12751

    Very true. Fuming with the fat mess on Tuesday night! I watched him say that the only reason RVP is with us, is because he is so injury prone otherwise he’d be with europes elite like Barca or ManUre. Unbelievable!