Arsenal’s FA Cup defeat to Man Utd could be ‘a boon’ for their Premier League title hopes, says Paul Merson | Football news

Winning the north London derby was huge for Arsenal, especially as Liverpool dropped points the night before.

It’s always great to beat Tottenham, but it was a huge game.

Liverpool go out and play Brentford this weekend and it’s a tough game. I know Arsenal have a tough game at Aston Villa but if they go and win it and Liverpool draw they will only have a two point lead with a game in hand.

How quickly football changes. It’s a back-to-back tie for Liverpool – and now Arsenal have closed the gap.

The Villa game is must-win for Arsenal. The way they are and have started, there is no room to make mistakes. They need to keep winning and running erratically.

Looking back now, the Man Utd defeat (in the FA Cup) could be a blessing in disguise for Arsenal. It wasn’t a huge defeat at the time, but it could go well. It takes another game and another week to get the players rested.

It will be difficult but they have to keep winning and hope Liverpool slip away.

Everyone knows Arsenal need a striker

This reminds me of a time during the Arsene Wenger era. Every Arsenal player, pundit and fan knew they needed a centre-half and they didn’t go out and get one.

I hope Mikel Arteta doesn’t think like that. Everyone knows they need a striker. They need to freshen it up, they don’t need to play right away, but they need that extra body.

You’ve seen it with Manchester City and Julian Alvarez, how much he’s been missed. Arsenal need that extra kick because they are in this title race, there’s no doubt about it.

The positive is that Arteta will think that if they keep creating chances, they will score goals. The problem is when they go to the likes of Fulham and Brighton, have Arsenal got the player who has two chances and scores a goal? I don’t think they do, and that’s the problem.

When they have 25 shots in the game, they will score one or two. The problem is in the games that are close.

In the Carabao Cup match last week, Newcastle almost didn’t have a kick, but the ball falls to Isak and it’s 1-0. First chance. Arsenal need that.

Lewis-Skelly has come in amazingly

It’s incredible what Myles Lewis-Skelly has done; to come through the ranks at a big club like Arsenal and make the team.

I was lucky to do it when I was a kid, but I was playing against the rest of England – he has to be the best in the world at his age.

You’d think he’s played 100 games for Arsenal already, which he’s fitted in. It helps to play with the center half next to him, Arsenal are solid.

I cannot speak highly enough of him. Any kid that comes through and plays in the Premier League for their club is a huge achievement. You’re not playing against England, you’re playing against the rest of the world to get into these teams.

Golf in class between Spurs and Arsenal

The defeat in the north London derby is damaging for Tottenham. They weren’t great and they weren’t good against Tamworth but were good against Liverpool.

There is a gap with Arsenal and Tottenham, and there has been for a long time. They have a lot of players out and the two centre-halves are massive, especially Van de Ven.

If you exclude Gabriel and Saliba, Arsenal will not win many football games. There is a bit of an excuse for Tottenham. You rarely win anything without good defenders.

Moyes has made no difference at Everton

I’m a big fan of David Moyes but when he came in I thought there was no difference. It’s like-for-like.

Everton have no players to come in. It was the same as usual (against Aston Villa). They can’t open a game as they don’t score enough goals and they have to keep doing it every week.

They can stay up just because of default. Leicester can’t win a game and Wolves’ bubble is burst, but it will be difficult.

Transfer Center LIVE! Offers, rumours, news on your phone

The January transfer window is OPEN!

Follow all the latest offers, news and rumors on ‘Transfers’ section of Sky Sports app!

Looking for news about YOUR club? Find dedicated transfer sites for EVERY Premier League team.