Arsenal restart their English Premier League campaign next week when they travel to the Etihad in order to take on defending champions Manchester City.
And according to pundit Paul Merson, the Gunners are in for a tough time for the remainder of the season especially since they will be playing inside an empty stadium.
“I worry about Arsenal. I saw the goals they conceded against Brentford. I worry about them playing behind closed doors,” Merson told The Football Show, via Football London.
“The one thing when you are a defender, and you are not a great defender, and there are a few of them at Arsenal, not top drawer defenders, I think the fans keep you honest.
“I mean that in a way they keep your concentration levels. You need the fans there where you are always going to concentrate.
“I saw one of their goals against Brentford and David Luiz tried to play out and flick it over the lad’s head, and that is not being honest. Fans keep you honest.
“I think with Arsenal it is going to be a little bit of a problem defensively because they will switch off.
Apologies for earlier error… Arsenal lost 3-2 to Brentford in the behind-closed-doors friendly this afternoon.
— Chris Wheatley (@ChrisWheatley_) June 10, 2020
“Behind closed doors, no crowds, I think they will switch off and there will be mistake after mistake and it could be a problem for Arsenal.”
Arsenal are currently ninth on the Premier League table – eight points behind the final Champions League spot. So if they were to lose to Man City in midweek they will once again have to play in the Europa League next season.
While some experts believe that playing inside an empty stadium will accept both the sides equally but Man City have some really flair players who can shake up the Gunners defence, with or without the presence of a full house.
