'Atrocious' - Arsenal legend lets rip after title hopes suffer major blow as Mikel Arteta's side throw away two-goal lead against Aston Villa

The Gunners appeared to be on their way to three points when Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz got on the end of Leandro Trossard crosses either side of half-time to give them a 2-0 lead. However, Youri Tielemans and Ollie Watkins struck for the visitors to seal a point in the Premier League clash at Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal's collapse leaves them with one win from their last five matches in all competitions, while they now trail Premier League leaders Liverpool by six points, though Arne Slot's men have a game in hand. The manner of their surrender against Emery's men, Merson says, sums up why they will not win the English crown again this season.

"It’s just too lackadaisical, to win Premier League titles you have to be on it, every day of the week, you have to turn up and make it hard," Merson, who won two First Division titles and the FA Cup in a legendary spell with the north London team, said on Sky Sports.

After seeing Thomas Partey casually walk away from Watkins just seconds before Villa's equaliser, he said: "When we look back at the goal, it’s atrocious and I’m not sure Arsenal have what it takes to win the league. It’s hard, anybody wins cups, but the league isi week in, week out and you have to be prepared to defend."

The Gunners are in action again in midweek when they meet Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League. That will be followed by a Premier League trip to Wolves on January 25.