Paul Merson has openly stated that he would be surprised if Chelsea were to finish higher than his former club, Arsenal, in the Premier League this season.
Chelsea have started the season strongly and currently hold third place in the league table. Although they are ahead of Arsenal on goal difference, the two sides played out a 1-1 draw just before the international break. The Blues have managed to surpass many expectations so far this season, with even their head coach, Enzo Maresca, acknowledging that the team’s performance has exceeded his initial hopes.
While Chelsea appear to be on track to secure a Champions League spot, the league standings remain highly competitive. Only four points separate them from Manchester United, who currently sit in 13th place. Despite this promising position, Chelsea have struggled in recent matches, securing just one victory in their last five Premier League outings. However, they face a more favorable schedule following the international break, starting with an away game against Leicester City on Saturday.
Few would have anticipated Chelsea being ahead of Arsenal at this stage, which highlights the contrasting fortunes of the two clubs early in the season. Although Chelsea have shown promise, whether they can maintain their position and stay ahead of their London rivals for the remainder of the campaign is uncertain. Paul Merson, however, remains skeptical, stating that he would be astonished if Chelsea managed to finish higher than Arsenal. He has previously expressed concerns about Chelsea becoming a team that only performs well against weaker opposition.
Speaking to Sportskeeda (via X.com), Merson commented:
“I would be shocked if Chelsea finished above Arsenal. Their squad is very young, and I don’t think they can secure third place this season. If they win the Europa Conference League and finish in the top four, that would still be considered a successful season.”
