Paul Merson claims Willian ‘looks lost’ at Arsenal and is a shadow of the player he was at Chelsea last year… and ex-Gunners midfielder also insists opposition defences have worked out star forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
- Willian arrived at Arsenal in the summer on a free transfer from rivals Chelsea
- But the Brazilian has not scored or assisted for the club since the opening game
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has netted just twice for the Gunners this season
- Paul Merson has urged Mikel Arteta to find solutions for both out-of-form players
Paul Merson has claimed Willian is ‘looking lost’ at Arsenal while also expressing concern that opposition sides have figured out how to play against star forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Willian, 32, arrived on a free transfer from Chelsea in the summer but has failed to score or record an assist across all competitions since setting up two goals on the opening weekend of the season in the win at Fulham.
The winger’s struggles have coincided with many of Arsenal’s other forwards misfiring, with captain Aubameyang netting just two league goals this season and fellow striker Alexandre Lacazette failing to score in any of his last six games.
Paul Merson has claimed Willian is ‘looking lost’ at Arsenal following his summer move
Merson is also concerned sides have figured out how to deal with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
And speaking to Sky Sports, former Gunners midfielder Merson has urged boss Mikel Arteta to help Willian rediscover the form he showed at Chelsea last season while insisting ‘something has got to change’ with regards to Aubameyang’s position out wide because he is not seeing enough of the ball.
‘I think I’m seeing things at the moment,’ Merson said.
‘Willian was unbelievable at Chelsea last year. For me, he was probably one of the best Chelsea players. He was phenomenal – an outstanding talent.
‘He has gone to Arsenal and he looks lost. They have got to get him performing.
Merson was speaking to Sky Sports ahead of Arsenal’s trip to Leeds this weekend
Willian has not scored or assisted since setting up Aubameyang in Arsenal’s opening game
‘When Aubameyang is out on the wing, he can go 15 minutes without touching the ball,’ Merson continued.
‘You can’t have your star player going that long without touching the ball. How many goals would Jamie Vardy get for Leicester if you played him out on the left wing? Not as many as he gets now, that’s for sure.
‘Defences are starting to work him out. They are starting to nullify the threat from him from out wide and making life hard for him.
‘They are stopping the cut inside and shot into the far corner. Something has got to change. At the moment, he’s not seeing enough of the ball where it matters.’
And Merson believes the 32-year-old is a shadow of the player who shone for Chelsea last year
Aubameyang meanwhile has scored just two league goals this season and is playing out wide
The comments come after Arsenal boss Arteta refused to confirm if Willian would be involved against Leeds on Sunday following his trip to Dubai during the international break.
Arteta confirmed the matter had been dealt with internally after the winger was not called up to the Brazil squad for their November fixtures.
The Gunners head into the game at Elland Road having failed to score from open play in their last four league matches.
Wolves and Fulham are the only sides outside of the relegation zone to have scored fewer league goals this season than Arteta’s men.
The duo’s poor form has coincided with abject performances from Alexandre Lacazette too
Mikel Arteta’s men have not scored from open play in four Premier League games
