Paul Merson feels the trip to Manchester United on Sunday is absolutely critical for Arsenal and their Premier League title hopes this season.
The new campaign gets going on Friday night as the defending champions Liverpool host Bournemouth, with the most eye-catching game of the first weekend coming on Sunday.
The Red Devils host the Gunners at Old Trafford with Ruben Amorim hoping to prove that his team are much improved from last season’s disaster, while Mikel Arteta wants to take the first step on a title challenge.
Arsenal have finished second in each of the last three seasons and the pressure is starting to mount on the Spaniard to deliver a significant piece of silverware in the near future.
Merson feels the Gunners have to get their campaign off with a win, especially with very difficult games to follow, which could see them lose ground early in the title race.
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The former England star told SportsKeeda: ‘This is a must-win game for Arsenal, it’s as simple as that! If you have a look at their fixtures after this weekend, it goes like – Leeds United at home, Liverpool away, Forest and Man City at home before a trip to Newcastle.
‘If they don’t beat Manchester United on Sunday, I don’t expect them to beat Liverpool and City during this run! So all of a sudden, they could be seven or nine points behind in the title race.
‘Viktor Gyokeres scored a brilliant header in pre-season. When Arsenal are under pressure in certain games, he will become a nuisance to opponents by running the channels and working the defenders. He’s a real presence in front of goal and you can count on him to cause problems to opponents.
‘I think Arsenal can win the league, if they can keep all their main players fit. I’d be shocked if Gyokeres, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard all play 35 games and arsenal still don’t win the Premier League. They are massive favourites if that happens.’
It is a big claim to put Arsenal as ‘massive favourites’ ahead of Liverpool and Manchester City if they just keep their players fit, but Merson is backing the club where he became an icon.
He is also backing them to pick up the all important win on Sunday, tipped the Gunners to head back to north London with a 2-1 victory.
Manchester United legends Roy Keane and Gary Neville also discussed the fixture on the Stick to Football podcast, with the Irishman agreeing with Merson’s prediction of 2-1 to Arsenal.
Neville, though, has backed his former club for a dream start to the season.
‘United are winning that,’ said Neville. ‘I’m going United, 2-1. I just think it’s a really bad game for Arsenal to get first up. I think it’s a challenging game for Arsenal first up.’
Alan Shearer has gone for the other option, tipping a draw at Old Trafford this weekend.
The Premier League legend told Metro: ‘It’s wonderful for us to sit down on Sunday and watch two giants go head to head so early in the season. Tough one to call but I’ll go for a draw.
‘There’s always a surprise result on the opening weekend. I don’t know what a surprise result would be in this game. It’s so tough to call with so many interesting moving parts. Gyokores on one side, Sesko on the other.
‘Amorim and Gyokores know each other really well. Zubimendi may free up Declan Rice more, Man United have done really well in forward positions. It’s a tough one to call so early in the season. There’ll be needle at Old Trafford.’