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Merson: Liverpool front three have edge over Arsenal’s

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Image for Merson: Liverpool front three have edge over Arsenal’s

Paul Merson claimed that Liverpool’s front three still have the edge over Arsenal’s front three due to being Premier League proven.

The former Arsenal player shared that he thought the Gunners’ attacking trio, Alex Lacazette, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Nicolas Pepe, could score 60 goals between them this season and claimed the London’s club front three could prove they’re capable of rivalling Liverpool’s front three when the two sides clash on Saturday.

However, Merson then admitted that due to Pepe being yet to prove himself in the Premier League, he currently ranks the Reds’ attacking trio,  Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane, as being better.

“Arsenal now have a front three to rival Liverpool’s – and they have a chance to prove it this weekend,” wrote Merson in his column for the Daily Star.

“I think Alex Lacazette, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Nicolas Pepe could score 60 goals between them this season.

“But Liverpool’s front three of Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane are the ones who set the bar, and they still have the edge.

“Those three are all proven performers in the Premier League while Pepe still has to prove himself over here.

“Liverpool’s trio have been doing the business together for a while now and the thing with them is the way they close you down.

“They hunt in packs and they never give you any time to settle. It’s very clever. They work so well together to deny you space.

“Salah, Firmino and Mane have set an example for everyone else to be honest. They are the pinnacle not because of all the goals they score but because of their workrate.”

OPINION

Merson clearly believes Arsenal’s new front three could one day be considered on the same level as Liverpool’s attacking trio, but that they need to prove themselves before he hands out praise. This is a fair opinion to have as while on paper the Gunners look like have a formidable front three, the proof is in the pudding. Lacazette scored 13 goals in 35 league games last season while Aubameyang scored 22 goals in 36 league outings in his 2018/19 campaign, which saw him get his name on the Golden Boot, and the pair showed glimpses of having a good understanding when manager Unai Emery opted to play them together. However, while Pepe did impressively score 23 goals in 41 outings for Lille last season, you can’t guarantee that he can produce similar numbers in English football nor can you determine if he’ll work well with his two new teammates. The 24-year-old has played 63 minutes of league action for Arsenal so far, as per Transfermarkt, and that’s not nearly enough time for him to have established himself in order to help the Gunners be seen as having the best front three in the league.

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