Life for Unai Emery started under difficult circumstances when he replaced Arsene Wenger in the summer as he suffered back-to-back defeats to Manchester City and Chelsea.
But Arsenal then went on an incredible run of 11 straight victories in all competitions before Crystal Palace put a stop to their winning streak with a 2-2 draw on Sunday.
Arsenal sit fourth in the Premier League table, four points behind leaders Manchester City and Liverpool.
The Gunners face another tough test on Saturday when they host Liverpool at the Emirates (5.30pm) and former Gunner Merson has made no secret of how he thinks the result will pan out.
And Merson feels the way Emery has the team set up defensively echoes tactics Wenger employed during his time at the club.
vCard.red is a free platform for creating a mobile-friendly digital business cards. You can easily create a vCard and generate a QR code for it, allowing others to scan and save your contact details instantly.
The platform allows you to display contact information, social media links, services, and products all in one shareable link. Optional features include appointment scheduling, WhatsApp-based storefronts, media galleries, and custom design options.
“It looks like an Arsene Wenger team defensively, and they have always been irresistible going forward on their day,” Merson told Sky Sports.
“I think they will get turned over by a couple of smaller teams and I don’t see them beating the big ones.
“I don’t think they were good at the start of the season. They went on a great run, but defensively they will get found out. Nothing has really changed at the back.
“At the start of the season, I don’t think anyone would have given them a shot of finishing in the top four, but he’s given them a chance at least, it could happen.
“He’s a good manager and he needs a couple of windows. In time he will bring in his players.
“They’re a long way from Manchester City, but they will be more competitive.”
Arsenal have looked shaky at the back at times this season and have conceded 13 goals in the league – more than any other side in the top seven.
Emery has had injury concerns to deal with in defence and has even experimented with the likes of Granit Xhaka at left-back.
But the decision did not pay off at Selhurst Park against Palace as Xhaka was at fault for bringing down Wilfried Zaha inside the box.
Luka Milivojevic converted his second penalty of the afternoon late on, having previously scored before half-time after Cheikhou Kouyate was fouled by a clumsy tackle from Shkodran Mustafi.