We're at a stage now where Sky Sports are publishing clips of Paul Merson with the 'embarrassed face emoji' accompanying them, such is his knack for saying things that make absolutely no sense at all.
His latest is not a moan at a lot of money being spent on a non-English player, nor an outlandish mispronunciation of a name that isn't 'Smith' or 'Taylor', but instead he can't quite get his head around Arsenal not pouncing on a 36-year-old midfielder deemed surplus to requirements at Everton.
That may sound like a harsh way to describe Gareth Barry, a player who has enjoyed a truly excellent Premier League career and will be an extremely useful signing for West Brom, but Arsenal? There would be riots (on Twitter at least) if the club was even rumoured to be in for him.
But Merson believes that Wenger should have made a move, mainly because 'he don't mess about'.
? Paul Merson thinks #Arsenal should have signed Gareth Barry. pic.twitter.com/NJklK4rELk
— Sky Bet (@SkyBet) August 18, 2017
? Paul Merson thinks #Arsenal should have signed Gareth Barry. pic.twitter.com/NJklK4rELk
— Sky Bet (@SkyBet) August 18, 2017
Gareth Barry is leaving Everton for West Brom so that he can continue to play regular first team football, in what world would it make sense for him to join Arsenal?
It's not beyond belief to suggest that a big name should be brought in to provide competition for Xhaka, Elneny, Coquelin, and Ramsey (and Jack Wilshere for now), but there are very few people out there who are brave enough to go on TV and claim that Gareth Barry would be the man to make things click.
Not a bother for Paul Merson.
