Arsenal would win the league if Arsene Wenger possessed the same tactical nous as Harry Redknapp, according to Paul Merson.
Redknapp’s last job was at Birmingham City where he was sacked after just 13 games in charge.
Wenger, meanwhile, signed a two-year contract extension with Arsenal at the end of last season after winning the FA Cup but admits he hesitated over the decision following pressure from fans over the club’s failure to challenge for the league title.
And Merson believes the Frenchman needs to learn from Redknapp when it comes to tactics.
‘People say he’s [Redknapp] a wheeler-dealer and it’s so disrespectful,’ the former Arsenal midfielder said on A League Of Their Own.
‘Tactically, he’s one of the best I’ve worked with.
‘If Arsene Wenger had Harry Redknapp’s tactical nous, Arsenal would win the league.’
Merson won the First Division title under Redknapp at Portsmouth and the former midfielder reveals how his ex-manager was so instrumental in their success.
‘Winning the league at Portsmouth. We were 33/1 rank outsiders to win the league that year,’ said Merson.
‘We won our first game at home and I thought we’d be alright and then went to Crystal Palace. We were 2-0 down at half-time and it could’ve been 10-0. I thought ‘what have I done coming here – this is going to be embarrassing.’
‘Harry came in at half-time and took three men off, put three at the back, five in midfield with three rolling attackers and we won 3-2.
‘That’s when I knew he was a great manager.’
MORE : Sead Kolasinac injury fears allayed after early substitution for Bosnia
MORE : Harry Kane and Romelu Lukaku will battle it out for Golden Boot, says Tottenham ace Jan Vertonghen
Share this with