Eddie Nketiah has yet to score in the league for Arsenal this season (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)

Paul Merson says Arsenal will not finish in the top four let alone win the Premier League with Eddie Nketiah replacing Gabriel Jesus.

Mikel Arteta’s side suffered a serious blow during the World Cup when Brazilian striker Jesus suffered a knee injury that will rule him out for the next three months.

The 25-year-old has been crucial to the Gunners’ success this season, with his five goals and six assists putting them five points clear at the top of the table.

Without him, Arsenal will struggle when the Premier League returns on Boxing Day and West Ham visit the Emirates.

Arteta has stated he is confident that back-forward Nketiah can fill Jesus’ void in the same way he came to the plate towards the end of last season, even if the 23-year-old has yet to score in a league game. focus on this campaign.

Frankly, he’s limited to just 140 minutes of league football so far in 2022-23, but Merson has absolutely no confidence in the Englishman’s ability to keep Arsenal’s title dream alive. Now count on the out of shape Eddie Nketiah.

“They can be eight points ahead if they beat West Ham before Manchester City play a game and you still wouldn’t believe they would have won the title without Gabriel Jesus.”

Gabriel Jesus’ knee injury will sideline him for three months (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

“It’s difficult because even though he doesn’t score many goals, he’s still so effective. If he’s out for three months I’d be shocked if they finish in the top four. I just don’t see where the goals are coming from.

Without being terrible, which Premier League team will Eddie Nketiah end up in? Wolves, for example, are at the bottom, they desperately want a goal and would not achieve it.

“It really worries me. It’s not a disrespect to Nketiah or the other players, but Jesus brings it all together. Nketiah could play three games, but I don’t see him making 10 games or more.”

Paul Merson

Paul Merson worried about Arsenal’s title hopes (Credits: Getty Images)

Arsenal may be diving into the transfer market to sign a new striker, but Merson isn’t convinced even that will make up for the loss of Jesus.

“I’ve been mentioning Cody Gakpo in recent weeks, but he actually looked bad for the Netherlands in the World Cup against Argentina,” the Arsenal legend added.

After a hat-trick against Switzerland, Portuguese striker Goncalo Ramos looked like he had never played football before in the quarter-final he lost to Morocco.

“Ramos should have been confident, but he looked like half the player, it just wasn’t right. Moreover, Benfica will also ask for stupid money in the course of the World Cup.

“Shakhtar Donetsk top target Mykhaylo Mudryk seems like a good player, but he is a winger and Arsenal need a striker.”