Paul Merson believes Oleksandr Zinchenko shouldn’t play against ‘the big boys’ as while Arsenal are ‘the team’ to win titles now, he causes a ‘problem’ for them.

The Gunners are flying high, as they were last season. They were the top side in the Premier League at Christmas, and have a chance to go back top when they play their game in hand over Liverpool.

They played the Reds last time out, and the frenetic match ended 1-1, though chances were presented to either side to win it.

Liverpool’s goal came from Mohamed Salah, after he cur past Zinchenko, who couldn’t get a touch when attempting to prod the ball away.

Merson felt the defender showed his weakness in that game.

“But this could be their problem, the left-back,” Merson said on Sky Sports.

“I think they would have rolled over two years ago and got beat [by] four or five at Liverpool. They didn’t and hung in there. I think they maybe could have nicked it if they picked the right pass.

“But that’s poor defending [from Zinchenko]. That’s my worry.”

Indeed, Merson feels the defender is useful when Arsenal have lots of spells of possession, but against better sides, when they have to sit back more, Zinchenko is a liability and shouldn’t be in the side.

“They need Zinchenko for the games against the bottom-half teams. Where they go and play and dominate the game. When they go and play against the big boys, then I think [Zinchenko shouldn’t play],” Merson added.

The pundit does believe that Arsenal have it in them to win titles now, but that comes with the caveat that Zinchenko shouldn’t play a major role in that.

“I think they go on and win it now. My mate Perry [Groves] at the start of the season was saying, ‘Arsenal will win the league’. I was thinking ‘nah,'” Merson added.

“But I make Arsenal the team now [to win the titles].”

If that is to be without Zinchenko, the Gunners have Takehiro Tomiyasu in reserve. The Japan international has started at left-back a number of times this season, so Arteta clearly sees him as a useful option instead of Zinchenko, and when his injury subsides, he could be back in the mix.

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