Arsenal's summer business has divided opinion, but Paul Merson believes it will be enough to end their Premier League title drought — just not enough to go all the way in Europe.
Speaking on Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday, Merson said he thinks the Gunners have strengthened sufficiently to finally get over the line domestically after years of near-misses. However, he suggested the extra demands of the Champions League could expose gaps in Mikel Arteta's squad, arguing Arsenal "will be short" when it comes to competing at the top level in Europe.
It's a notable take given how much money and effort Arsenal have invested in trying to close the gap on the continent's elite in recent windows. Merson's comments imply that while the depth and quality added may be sufficient to grind out a 38-game league campaign, the step up against Europe's best could still prove a stretch too far.
Arsenal fans will hope Merson's prediction on the Premier League proves accurate — even if the Champions League verdict is one they'd rather see disproven.