Paul Merson feels that Arsenal will be feared in the Champions League last 16 (Picture: Sky)
Paul Merson has named the Arsenal star who isn’t playing in his ‘right position’ despite scoring in the 6-0 win over RC Lens on Wednesday.
The Gunners thrashed the French side to secure top spot in Group B of the Champions League and book their place in the last 16.
The result saw Arsenal become the first side in Champions League history to have as many as five different scorers in the first half of a match in the competition.
Their 6-0 victory also marked the biggest ever victory by an English team against a French opponent in European competition.
Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard and Jorginho all registered goals in Arsenal’s joint-biggest ever win under Arteta.
Speaking after the match, Merson singled out Havertz for praise, feeling he was the ‘best player on the pitch’ but also insisting that he is being deployed in the wrong position by Mikel Arteta.
The Arsenal boss has moulded Havertz into a midfield player since his summer switch from Chelsea, where he featured as a centre-forward.
‘Havertz is a confidence player and he’s playing with confidence right now,’ Merson told Sky Sports after Arsenal’s win over RC Lens.
‘I thought he was the best player on the pitch tonight. He was elegant, he picked the right passes and made the right decisions.
‘He’s a top player. I don’t think he’s playing in the right position but he’s still a top player.’
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Meanwhile, Merson believes that his old club will be feared in the Champions League knockouts.
‘I said at the start I thought they are big players in this tournament,’ he added. ‘No one will want to play them. They clicked tonight – and when they start well they’re hard to beat. They will go a long way in this tournament and they’ll be right up there in the Premier League title race.’
Merson also insisted that Arteta’s decision to substitute Saka was a ‘good move’ despite the England international admitting that he did not want to come off and has called for Declan Rice to be wrapped up ‘in cotton wool’ due to his importance to the side.
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