Paul Merson hails Arteta for attracting Jesus and Zinchenko to Arsenal without CL football

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Paul Merson has hailed Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta for attracting world-class stars Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko to the Emirates this summer.

The Gunners ended the transfer window in disappointment after they failed to sign Douglas Luiz on deadline day, but the business they did back in July has well and truly transformed them.

Arteta and Edu Gaspar made Gabriel Jesus their priority target this summer and they got a deal done with Manchester City. The Brazilian joined the Gunners in the first week of July, and he has been incredible for them.

A little over two weeks after Jesus’ arrival, Arsenal went back to City and snapped up Zinchenko. The Ukrainian has been magnificent as well, and Merson is blown away by Arteta’s ability to convince the two men to join the Gunners.

Paul Merson hails Arteta for attracting Jesus and Zinchenko to Arsenal without CL football

In his column on The Daily Star, Merson raved about Arteta for convincing Jesus and Zicnhenko to leave the best club in the country for Arsenal, a team that aren’t even in the Champions League.

He wrote: “Big credit to Arteta. Like Erik ten Hag at United, the Spaniard is very strong on discipline. I’m a fan of that. Every successful team needs discipline – on and off the field.

“Both managers are doing it their way and that’s the only way – because if they stop following their beliefs, they’ll regret it when it does go wrong.

“That’s why even if the top four – which must be the aim for Arsenal – proves just beyond them, I’d expect the board to go with Arteta again. After all, which other manager could attract the quality of Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko to North London…without Champions League football.

“It’s incredible he got that world-class pair to sign for us – and what a difference they’re making.”

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Merson’s right, Arteta deserves immense credit for luring both Jesus and Zinchenko to Arsenal when they could easily have stayed at City or gone and joined a Champions League club.

The two players have been phenomenal for Arsenal since the start of the season. Jesus has been the main man so far, but Zinchenko, even though he has missed the Gunners’ last two games, has arguably been their best signing.

Arsenal signing the two Manchester City boys has given everyone else at the club a huge lift. Everyone is performing at a really good level, and that’s why the Gunners are on top of the league table.

Arteta’s men take on Manchester United next in what will be their toughest test yet. Zinchenko is set to miss that game, but if Jesus can fire his side to victory at Old Trafford, people may just have to start taking Arsenal a bit more seriously.