It would be a total disaster if Arsenal fail to secure Champions League football next season, Gunners legend Paul Merson believes. Arsenal ran out 3-1 winners to West Ham tonight to keep up the pressure on Everton, who they have leap-frogged back into fourth place, though they have played one more game.
The result was in serious doubt when the Hammers took the lead on 40 minutes through Jarvis who nodded home from close range. Jarvis could have further damaged Arsenal’s Champions League hopes when he was kicked by Sagna inside the area but despite a wobble managed to stay on his feet when many would have gone down to win the penalty.
The match turned when Cazorla created a chance out of nothing for Lukas Podolski who lashed home a powerful drive to level the scores. Olivier Giroud then put Arsenal in front with a fine effort early in the second half before Podolski grabbed another late on. But despite the win Merson thinks they could well miss out on a top four finish which would have severe repercussions. They’ve had the stadium built and not really brought in any big name players until this season when they get [Mesut] Ozil – and for them to not then be in the Champions League would be a total disaster, he told Sky Sports.
“Who knows how long it would be before they got back there. “
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