Paul Merson’s combined Arsenal and Chelsea XI won’t cheer up Gunners one bit

Abandon ship.

Premier League champions Chelsea welcome Arsenal to Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon with Arsene Wenger's men already suffering two defeats in their opening four league fixtures. Looking ahead to the game for Sky Sports is Paul Merson, a man that - considering his combined XI for the game - can't be accused of being the kind of pundit that shows favouritism towards his former club. Clearly, Merse isn't too optimistic about his old team's chances of getting a victory in West London, as he struggles to fit any Arsenal player into his lineup... In the end, he did manage to find room for one: Alexis Sanchez. 'I honesty can't make a case for anyone other than Alexis Sanchez,' he explains. 'The clubs are chalk and cheese and it's sad. This is Arsenal versus Chelsea and I can only find one Arsenal player. Where has it all gone wrong?

'10 years ago I'd be fighting to get a Chelsea player in. I'm not being harsh. People will say I'm taking the mickey but I'd like to sit down with an Arsenal fan and discuss who would really get in. 'I'm being kind with Sanchez if anything. If you're a Chelsea fan you're thinking that's harsh on Pedro and Willian on current form.'

Chelsea have recovered after starting the new campaign with a shock home defeat to Burnley, wins over Tottenham, Everton and Leicester seeing them rise to third in the table.