Tottenham vs Arsenal: Harry Kane would score 20+ goals for the Gunners, says Paul Merson

Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane would score at least 20 goals a season at Arsenal were he signed to replace Theo Walcott or Olivier Giroud, according to ex-Gunner Paul Merson. The England international has not scored a club goal this term but Merson would like to see him at the focal point of the north Londoners' attack.

The forward options available to Arsene Wenger have been heavily scrutinised in recent weeks after the French boss failed to add to his forward line during the summer transfer window. The back-to-back FA Cup winners were the only team in the top five divisions not to sign an outfield player during the summer transfer window, only signing Petr Cech from Chelsea.

Wenger's decision not to add depth to his attack, which is without Danny Welbeck until Christmas after he underwent knee surgery having been out since April, has not been helped by Walcott and Giroud's slow start to the campaign. Both players have mustered two goals each as the pair have been rotated as the lone striker in the Arsenal first team.

After successive defeats to Dynamo Moscow and Premier League champions Chelsea, games which saw Arsenal suffer red cards in both games, the club will look to get their season back on track in the Capital One Cup third round tie against Tottenham at White Hart Lane. The capital rivals' misfiring strikers are set to go head-to-head for a place in the fourth round and Merson says he would opt for Spurs' forward line.

"I don't think Kane is a one-season wonder at all, he's another top player and if you offered me him for Giroud or Walcott I'd take him for sure," he told Sky Sports. "If you're a centre-forward you're only as good as those around you and that Tottenham midfield is not that good. At Arsenal he'd get 20-plus goals again this season for sure."

The former Arsenal midfielder was previewing the game by selecting his combined Tottenham-Arsenal 11, but Kane was just one of three players from Mauricio Pochettino's side to make the cut. Hugo Lloris was preferred in goal ahead of Cech while Toby Alderweireld was chosen over Per Mertesacker.