Arsenal get their Champions League last-16 campaign under way on Tuesday night as they take on PSV Eindhoven in their first leg in the Netherlands.
The Gunners’ Premier League title hopes are now hanging by a thread after Liverpool built up a 13-point lead at the top.
In addition, Arsenal are out of the FA Cup and League Cup, meaning the Champions League is now the Gunners’ most realistic chance of silverware.
Arsenal are also having to navigate the business end of the season with severely depleted attacking ranks.
Paul Merson has now told Mikel Arteta who he’d start up front for the Gunners as he predicted the winner of the tie.
Paul Merson backs Arsenal to beat PSV as he calls for Raheem Sterling to start up front
Merson has previously made clear his dislike of Mikel Merino playing up front for Arsenal and he did so once more in his latest article on Sky Sports.
The Highbury legend urged Arteta to start Raheem Sterling up front for Arsenal, and backed the Gunners to get past PSV, though it wouldn’t be easy.
“This would be a nice draw for Arsenal if they had a full team but with no firepower now, I don’t see them blowing PSV away,” wrote Merson. “It’s turned into a tricky tie.
“Arsenal have failed to score in their last two games and they only scored against Leicester, who have been letting goals in for fun, in the last 10 minutes.
“I hope Mikel Arteta stops playing Mikel Merino up front. I can’t get my head around that one. I know he came on against Leicester and scored twice but Leicester are Leicester, they’re not very good.
“I would play Raheem Sterling up front. He’s lively. Defenders will be happy to play against Merino every day of the week. He’s not a centre forward. At least Sterling’s played up there before.
“This is going to be a dangerous game. I’d expect Arsenal to go through but I don’t think it’s as much of a foregone conclusion as what it was. I can see it going a long way.”
Arsenal team news v PSV
Arsenal have Myles Lewis-Skelly back again from suspension after he sat out the Nottingham Forest game.
However, the Gunners remain without the injured Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz and Takehiro Tomiyasu.
PSV are currently missing two key players due to long-term injuries – Riccardo Pepi and Malik Tillman.
Mauro Junior has missed the past two games, while Esmir Bajraktarevic has a shoulder problem.
Sergino Dest, who has sat out most of the campaign with an ACL injury, has returned to training.
