Paul Merson says ‘incredible’ Arsenal star is ‘like a new signing’ for Mikel Arteta

Paul Merson says two Arsenal players have been ‘like new signings’ for Mikel Arteta and has revealed his prediction for the Premier League clash against West Ham.

The Gunners travel to east London on Sunday hoping to move a step closer to their first Premier League title since 2004.

An away game against relegation-battlers and London rivals West Ham is seen by many as the last obstacle to Arsenal seeing off title rivals Manchester City.

But Merson has backed Arsenal to clinch a ‘comfortable win’ at the London Stadium and send West Ham even closer to relegation.

Merson has been impressed by Arsenal’s recent form and says Myles Lewis-Skelly and Bukayo Saka have been ‘like new signings’ for Gunners boss Arteta.

Lewis-Skelly has hardly played for his boyhood club this season but startedlast weekend’s Premier League win over Fulham and the subsequent Champions League semi-final victory over Atletico Madrid.

Saka scored in both of those games and has impressed since returning from injury following a difficult spell for Arsenal during the middle of the season.

‘This game is definitely the last hope for Manchester City in terms of Arsenal slipping up in the title race again,’ Merson told Sportskeeda.

‘After this, Arsenal have Burnley at home and Crystal Palace away on the final day of the season. If Palace reach the Conference League final, they will definitely rest all their main players against Arsenal.

‘West Ham will know this is a tough game. They have to come out and play since they are trailing Spurs. I don’t think that will suit them against Arsenal.

‘Bukayo Saka looks fresh, Myles Lewis-Skelly has been incredible in the last couple of games.

‘The thing is, Lewis-Skelly hasn’t played 50 or 60 games like Declan Rice or Martin Zubimendi. He provides fresh legs in midfield at a crucial stage of the season.

‘Both Saka and Lewis-Skelly have been like new signings for Arsenal in this final run-in for the title.

‘I believe Arsenal will get a comfortable win here, 2-0. If so it’s all over for Man City!’

Ex-Premier League striker Chris Sutton has also highlighted the importance of Saka’s return to Arsenal’s title charge.

‘Arsenal look like a totally different proposition on the attacking front now Bukayo Saka is back in the team,’ he told BBC Sport.

‘It is going to be hard for West Ham to keep them out, and it doesn’t help the Hammers that they desperately need a victory here after losing last weekend while all the teams around them won.

‘A draw wouldn’t be a disaster for West Ham if you took this game in isolation but, depending on what Tottenham do against Leeds on Monday night, even if they pick up a point they could end up further adrift.

‘Arsenal have had big wins at London Stadium in each of the past two seasons. I don’t see them sticking five or six in again this time, but I also don’t see them slipping up.’

Saka and Declan Rice was on target as Arsenal beat West Ham 2-0 in the reverse fixture at the Emirates Stadium earlier in the season.

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