PAUL MERSON believes that appointing Mikel Arteta is too risky for a club the size of Arsenal, with question marks over his inexperience as a manager.
Merson told Sky Sports former Arsenal man Arteta offers nothing other than “the fact he won’t get lost on the way to training.”
Merson compares Arteta to Freddie Ljungberg, who is in temporary control of Arsenal, another man with little managerial experience.
Under Ljungberg, Arsenal have one win in five since Unai Emery was sacked on November 29.
The Gunners players also fear Arteta is not experienced enough and want former Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti to take over instead.
However, Ancelotti is believed to have agreed to take over at Everton following the sacking of Marco Silva.
Merson also told Sky Sports that he doesn’t see the difference between Ljungberg and Arteta apart from the fact that the latter has worked for Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
He said: “Arsenal won’t suddenly start playing like City if Arteta is appointed because it’s not as simple as that.
“It’s all well and good saying he’s worked under Pep Guardiola, but let’s be honest, Guardiola would struggle managing this Arsenal team.
“Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp would struggle!
“You’re only as good as your players at the end of the day and the idea of Arteta replicating Guardiola’s style of football at the Emirates just falls apart when you look at the players he’ll be working with.”
Arsenal are believed to be extremely close to appointing Arteta after Arsenal executives were seen leaving the Spaniard’s house in the early hours of Monday morning.
He is expected to travel to Oxford to watch Arsenal’s Carabao Cup fixture tonight, with talks reportedly at a “sensitive stage.”
The relationship Arteta has with Pep Guardiola and the possibility of managing at the Etihad in the future are reportedly playing a part in his final decision.
Arteta played 110 times for Arsenal, scoring 14 goals before retiring to become part of Pep Guardiola’s backroom staff at Manchester City.
