Paul Merson has slammed Mikel Arteta after Arsenal’s dismal defeat to Liverpool on Sunday, claiming it’s “as bad as I’ve ever seen”.
Arteta’s side were comfortably brushed aside 3-0 by Liverpool at the Emirates to leave them languishing in 10th in the Premier League.
The result means European football next season is almost impossible unless they qualify through the Europa League.
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It’s been a disappointing campaign for Arteta and his side and Merson is shocked by their levels of performance.
He told Sky Sports: “As I said before the Liverpool game, all the eggs have gone into the Europa League basket for Arsenal and it’s as simple as that.
“They’ve taken that chance now to be completely and utterly judged on five more football matches, however, what I watched against Liverpool the other day was as bad as I’ve ever seen.
“I can’t remember Arsenal ever being like that!
“People will say about the times under Unai Emery and at the end of Arsene Wenger’s reign, but I never saw anything like that.
“All I saw was rolling the ball back to the goalkeeper and he just lumped it down the field.”
Arsenal are on course for their worst finish in the Premier League since 1995 when they ended the year 12th and Merson likened Arteta to Spurs boss Jose Mourinho.
He added: “When they get beat and he comes out and takes the blame, he’s just doing the opposite to what Jose Mourinho does when he criticises his player, but Arteta is thinking exactly the same as Mourinho.
“Mourinho just says it and the difference is one manager has been around for a long time and he’s won everything in the game.
“He can just say it exactly as it is whereas Arteta is just starting out and he’s got to say the right things in front of the camera.
“However, when the camera is away, he’ll be thinking exactly the same as Mourinho.
“That wasn’t good enough from Arsenal against Liverpool. It was as bad as it gets, and Arteta will know it.”
