Arsenal will once again miss out on a Champions League place this season after losing Alexis Sanchez to a rival club during the summer transfer window.
That is the ominous prediction of Gunners legend Paul Merson, who says his former team are still a ‘long way off’ from challenging for the Premier League.
Arsene Wenger’s side finished fifth last term but will hope for a better outcome during the 2017-18 campaign after adding Alexandre Lacazette and Sead Kolasinac to their ranks.
The north London outfit are also interested in bringing France midfielder Thomas Lemar to the Emirates and have registered an interest in Nice’s Jean-Michael Seri.
But former forward Merson cannot see Arsenal competing with the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea this season and fears Sanchez will still leave the club.
The Chilean superstar was heavily linked with Manchester City and Chelsea earlier in the summer but recent reports suggest he has accepted Wenger’s decision not to sell him.
Nevertheless, in a column for Sky Sports, Merson said: ‘I think Arsenal are a long way off still, I really do.
‘I don’t see Alexis Sanchez staying at Arsenal by September, and when you look at the rest of the team, I don’t see it happening.
‘Alexandre Lacazette is a good player, but not everybody else was going after him. If you’re good and playing in France, PSG will be after you, or Monaco, who lost a lot of their players.
‘That’s my worry. He plays that one-two, which will be good for Arsenal, but he’s not going to beat three players.’
The former England international added: ‘People talk about Arsenal in the Europa League, maybe suggesting they won’t bother trying in it, but Arsene Wenger still has to fly out somewhere on the Wednesday, won’t get back until the Friday. It is still tiring.
‘Therefore, I would tell Steve Bould to be in charge of the Europa team, and Wenger could work at home with the Premier League team.’
Chelsea won the league by seven points last term but Merson believes Antonio Conte will relinquish this title next year, with Manchester City lifting the trophy after a substantial spending spree at the Etihad over the summer.
‘Going forward City are very strong, and they have bought players at the back,’ Merson said.
‘Pep Guardiola has bought well, bought a lot of pace in the team at the back, including Kyle Walker. But if they do not win the league this year, it’s Guardiola’s fault. It’s as simple as that for me.
‘I think the manager didn’t adapt to the Premier League last year; he played the same way every game, and you’ve got to be adaptable in certain matches.’
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