Arsenal must score first if they are to get result at Chelsea, says Paul Merson
Arsenal legend Paul Merson believes his old side have to score first in order to have any hope of getting a good result against Chelsea this weekend.The Gunners travel to Stamford Bridge in somewhat unconvincing form, with their only wins this season coming against Leicester City, Bournemouth and FC Cologne.
Alexis Sanchez magic compensates for early wobble vs Cologne
Arsene Wenger has a dreadful recent record away to Arsenal’s main ‘big six’ rivals, and hasn’t won away to Chelsea since all the way back in the 2011/12 season.
Merson isn’t confident the north Londoners can eschew subjugate this time, presaging a 3-0 win for the Premier League champions.
Arsenal legend expounds the only way Gunners can eschew a drubbing at Chelsea
However, the former England international says Arsenal could make it interesting if they get the first goal, as they gain confidence in those situations, whereas they simply collapse if they go behind.
‘It’s all about the first goal. If Arsenal score first you will watch and think “wow, they look decent”,’ Merson told Sky Sports.
‘They will be confident and they have good players who look decent when they are winning.
Hector Bellerin reveals the change that sparked Arsenal's comeback vs Cologne
‘But when they are losing too many of them just go completely and utterly missing. The shape goes out of the window and if they let in the first goal it could be anything.
‘People are saying to me “what a good result against Bournemouth” but if you could have handpicked any team to play last week it was Bournemouth.
‘If Arsenal score first it will be a very interesting match but I don’t think they will.’
