Paul Merson says Mikel Arteta’s done something which will make two Arsenal stars ‘better players’

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Arsenal legend Paul Merson believes that Mikel Arteta’s decision to discipline Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on Sunday will help Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe “be better players”.

Aubameyang was a surprise omission from the Gunners team in Sunday’s North London derby at the Emirates Stadium, with Arteta citing a disciplinary issue as the reason.

It was a bold decision from the Arsenal boss, but it didn’t backfire as the Gunners ran out 2-1 winners over Spurs.

Arteta’s side fell behind to a stunning Erik Lamela goal, but turned the game round through Martin Odegaard and Alexandre Lacazette’s penalty.

But regardless of the result, Merson thinks Arteta’s decision to omit Aubameyang was “probably the biggest masterstroke of his short managerial career”.

The former Arsenal midfielder recalled how George Graham took him off at half-time in a game against Coventry after he’d gone out the night before, and called him out in front of the players.

“I didn’t play again for two months and rightly so and I missed the North London derby on the Monday as well,” Merson wrote on Sky Sports.

“If he had played me that would have sent out a message to other players to do the same and you can’t put that seed in other players’ minds.

“Nowadays managers have to look after themselves more and just get results but fair play to Arteta, he’s looked at young players like Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka who are the future of the club and sent a message to them that whatever Aubameyang did wasn’t right.

“I think it was brilliant management – those kids will go on and be better players just for that decision alone, they will take that on and hopefully realise that they have to do the right things off the pitch as well as on it.”