Paul Merson Claims Arsenal Boss Arsene Wenger Should Have Signed Michael Owen

Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson has hailed Sir Alex Ferguson for landing goal-poacher Michael Owen, and believes Arsene Wenger should have entered the bidding.

“I think getting Michael Owen is a great bit of business for Manchester United,” Merson explained to Sky Sports News. “For a start it's on a free but more importantly, there is no better finisher in the Premier League.

“Knowing how many chances United create - and they make a lorryload every week - he will score goals for fun at Old Trafford.

“At United he will get plenty of chances and he will score plenty of goals. How many times do you see them dominate teams for the whole game? Practically every week they have 70-80 per cent possession, but sometimes they just need someone to stick the ball in the net - and there are none better at that than Michael Owen.”

He added, “I actually can't believe Arsenal didn't come in for him because they are another side that dominates teams but never take enough of their chances.

“Liverpool are a different matter because they play on the counter-attack and like to let teams come on them, but I thought he'd be the perfect buy for Arsene Wenger.

“They say you're good if you are a one-goal-in-two chances striker. Well I happen to think Owen is even better than that, possibly two in three. At United he'll get three chances every game and he will score goals - and as strange as it may sound, it might just be good news for England.

“I know Fabio Capello is not exactly his biggest fan, but I can't think of four better English centre-forwards, I really can't.”

He continued, “There is always a surprise in a World Cup year and although it seems an odd thing to say about one of our best goalscorers, I can see Michael sneaking in the back door for South Africa.

“People talk about him losing that crucial yard of pace and it might be true, but I don't think it will matter at United one bit.

“You know United are going to pin teams back and you know the opposition are going to drop deep and pack men behind the ball, so out-and-out pace is not that important.

“I can see him fitting in at United in the same way as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer did - and we all know how successful and popular he was at Old Trafford.”

He concluded by remarking, “If you give him chances Michael Owen will score goals. He will score goals for fun for Manchester United - and I still think the same goes for England, too.”

Alan Dawson, Goal.com