Paul Merson: Sack Arsene Wenger if Arsenal fail to win the Premier League this year

Arsenal legend Paul Merson thinks the club should sack Arsene Wenger if either Tottenham Hotspur or Leicester City beat them to the Premier League title. The 47-year-old pundit said the longest-serving manager in the top flight ought to be elbowed out if the Gunners fail to win the league.

The North London club are currently five points behind leaders Leicester and three points behind Spurs, following their 3-2 loss to an under-strength Manchester United side on Sunday (28 February). Merson thinks Wenger's failure to invest in his squad during the summer transfer window could cost him his job.

"If Man City don't win the league and Tottenham or Leicester do then Arsene Wenger has to go," he told Sky Sports. "If you're sitting there telling those fans – loyal Arsenal fans – that they don't need any new players at the start of the season and then you don't win the league in front of Leicester or Tottenham then I don't see how you can justify it."

Merson said Wenger has an excuse if Arsenal are beaten to the Premier League crown by Manchester City, because of their financial resources. However, he insisted the same cannot be said of the Foxes or their White Hart Lane rivals.

"If Man City win the league he can turn around and say 'they've got all the money in the world and can go and buy whoever they want, so would whoever I bought have made much difference?'. But if Leicester or Tottenham win the league after he said they didn't need any players, then I don't see how he can keep his job," Merson said of the current Arsenal boss.

The pundit insisted that, ultimately, Wenger must accept full responsibility for Arsenal's results and performances. "It just frustrates me and it absolutely does my head in," Merson admitted. "People point to the players, but the manager has to get the players up for these games. Man United might be fifth and not having a good season, but it's still Man United in front of 75,000 people."