MIKEL ARTETA is just like Jose Mourinho but without the trophies, according to Arsenal icon Paul Merson.
The Gunners were thumped 3-0 at home to struggling Liverpool on Saturday to slip to tenth in the Premier League with their European dream over.
After the game, Merson called it the worst Arsenal display he’d ever seen – even compared to Unai Emery’s torrid reign and Arsene Wenger’s difficult final season.
And in a furious rant, Merson described boss Arteta as being like loudmouth Mourinho but without the silverware to back up his claims.
Merson told Sky Sports: “What I watched against Liverpool the other day was as bad as I’ve ever seen.
“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.”
Merson continued: “When they get beaten and he comes out and takes the blame, he’s just doing the opposite to what Jose Mourinho does when he criticises his players.
“But Arteta is thinking exactly the same as Mourinho… Mourinho just says it.
“The difference is one manager has been around for a long time and he’s won everything in the game.”
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Arteta has tasted success though, helping Arsenal win the FA Cup in 2019-20 before clinching the Community Shield later that year.
Merson’s mood won’t have improved after the Europa League quarter-final against Slavia Prague.
At home for the first leg, a struggling Gunners side looked like they’d stolen a late win when Nicolas Pepe scored in the 86th minute.
But Arteta’s side could not hold on, Tomas Holes scoring a crucial away goal in the 93rd minute to seal a 1-1 draw.
Meanwhile, Kieran Tierney could be targeted by one of Europe’s giants including Real Madrid or Manchester City in a £50million summer swoop, according to Charlie Adam.
The ex-Liverpool and Stoke star claimed: “Would it surprise me if a Real Madrid, a Man City or any of the clubs in the top echelons come in for him in the summer?
“I think he’s ready now. He’s 23, he signed for Arsenal injured and was out for a spell with groin and shoulders problems.
“But he’s come back and has matured into a top player.
“I believe he can go to the next level again.
“You’re starting at £50m too.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
